Operating pedal system

Abstract

To facilitate adjustment of a height position of a tread of an operation pedal provided on a saddle-riding type vehicle or change of a form of the tread, and enhance convenience.SOLUTION: A brake pedal system provided on a saddle-riding type vehicle includes a brake pedal 13 having an arm part 14 and a pedal part 15, and a tread formation member 21 which is mounted on the pedal part 15 and thereby forms a tread 11 above the pedal part 15. The tread formation member 21 is separate from the brake pedal 13 and accordingly is separable from the brake pedal 13, and the tread formation member 21 has a body part 22 where a tread formation surface 23 is formed on the upper surface, and a mounting mechanism 28 for detachably mounting the tread formation member 21 to the pedal part 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation pedal system provided in a saddle-type vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in a saddle-type vehicle, footrests are provided respectively at the lower right and lower left of a seat on which an operator of the saddle-type vehicle sits. Also, a brake pedal, which is a kind of operation pedal, is provided at the lower right of the seat.

[0003] Moreover, the riding postures of an operator of a saddle-type vehicle include a sitting posture and a standing posture. When traveling on a flat surface such as a paved road with a saddle-type vehicle, usually, the operator sits on the seat, bends both knees, and places the sides of the ball of the left foot and the right foot on the footrests to operate the saddle-type vehicle. This posture is the sitting posture. On the other hand, when traveling on a surface with unevenness or undulations such as an unpaved road with a saddle-type vehicle, the operator may operate the saddle-type vehicle with both knees slightly extended and the buttocks lifted from the seat while placing the sides of the ball of the left foot and the right foot on the footrests. This posture is the standing posture.

[0004] Also, the operator brakes the rear wheels of the saddle-type vehicle by stepping on the brake pedal. Specifically, the operator places the bottom surface on the tip side of the right foot (specifically, around the belly of the thumb of the right foot generally) on the brake pedal, uses the right footrest as a fulcrum, lowers the tip side of the right foot, and pushes the brake pedal downward to brake the rear wheels.

[0005] In a standing position, the position of the toes of each foot is higher compared to a seated position due to factors such as the knees being slightly extended. Also, in a standing position, the range in which the toes of each foot can be lowered is smaller due to factors such as weight being distributed on both feet. Furthermore, if the driver is wearing sturdy, rigid shoes such as off-road boots, the range in which the toes of each foot can be lowered is even smaller. For these reasons, in a standing position, it is desirable to set the brake pedal surface higher compared to a seated position in order to ensure good operability of the brake pedal.

[0006] Conventionally, the height of the brake pedal tread has been adjusted by changing the position of the yoke attached to the push rod of the rear brake master cylinder. That is, as shown in Figure 5 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-191462 (Patent Document 1), the lower end of the push rod of the rear brake master cylinder is connected to the rear end of the brake pedal via the yoke. To raise the height of the brake pedal tread, the position of the yoke is lowered so that it is moved away from the rear brake master cylinder. This adjustment of the yoke position is performed by first loosening the nut for fixing the yoke on the push rod using a tool such as a wrench, then changing the position of the yoke, and then tightening the nut using a tool such as a wrench. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-191462 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] In conventional brake pedals, adjusting the height of the pedal surface requires loosening or tightening a nut on the push rod using a wrench or other tool, as described above. This makes adjusting the pedal surface height cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0009] Furthermore, users of saddle-type vehicles may travel on both flat and uneven or undulating terrain, such as paved roads in urban areas, highways, unpaved forest roads, and off-road racing courses. In such cases, conventional brake pedals may cause inconvenience to users. Specifically, since tools such as wrenches are required to adjust the height of the brake pedal surface, users must carry such tools with them in order to adjust the height of the brake pedal surface at their destination. Also, since adjusting the height of the brake pedal surface is complicated, users need to secure a flat workspace where they can safely park the saddle-type vehicle to perform the adjustment work. However, finding such a workspace at the destination can be difficult.

[0010] Furthermore, when users of saddle-type vehicles travel on both flat and uneven or undulating terrain, it would be convenient if the shape of the brake pedal surface—such as the area of ​​the pedal tread or the shape of the anti-slip surface—could be easily changed according to the conditions of the travel destination. However, with conventional brake pedals, changing the shape of the tread surface requires replacing the entire brake pedal. Replacing the entire brake pedal is a complicated process, and it is difficult to perform this work at the destination.

[0011] Furthermore, the above-mentioned problems—namely, the cumbersome and time-consuming adjustment of the tread height, the potential inconvenience to users who travel on both flat and uneven or undulating terrain in saddle-type vehicles, and the cumbersome process of replacing the entire operating pedal to change the tread shape—can occur not only with brake pedals but also with other conventional operating pedals installed in saddle-type vehicles (such as rotary-type shift pedals).

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, for example, and the first object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient operating pedal system that allows for easy adjustment of the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal provided on a saddle-type vehicle. The second object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient operating pedal system that allows for easy change of the shape of the tread surface of the operating pedal provided on a saddle-type vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above problems, the present invention The first operating pedal system The operating pedal system is provided on a saddle-type vehicle and comprises an operating pedal having an arm portion extending generally in the front-rear direction on the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion protruding outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the arm portion on the saddle-type vehicle, and a tread-forming member attached to the pedal portion to form a first tread above the pedal portion that receives the force when the operating pedal is pressed, wherein the tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal, and the tread-forming member has a main body portion having a tread-forming surface for forming the first tread formed on its upper surface, and a mounting mechanism provided on the main body portion for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion. Furthermore, a second tread is formed on the upper surface of the pedal portion, which receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down, when the tread-forming member is removed from the pedal portion, and the height of the first tread formed by attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion is higher than the height of the second tread. It is characterized by the following: Furthermore, the second operating pedal system of the present invention is an operating pedal system provided on a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: an operating pedal having an arm portion extending generally in the front-rear direction on the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion protruding outward in the left-right direction on the saddle-type vehicle from the front end of the arm portion; and a tread-forming member attached to the pedal portion, which forms a first tread above the pedal portion that receives the force when the operating pedal is pressed down, wherein the tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal, and the tread-forming member has a main body portion on which a tread-forming surface for forming the first tread is formed on its upper surface, and a mounting mechanism provided on the main body portion for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, wherein the mounting mechanism is attached to the pedal portion by hooking the tread-forming member onto the pedal portion. Furthermore, the third operating pedal system of the present invention is an operating pedal system provided on a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: an operating pedal having an arm portion extending generally in the front-rear direction on the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion protruding outward in the left-right direction on the saddle-type vehicle from the front end of the arm portion; and a tread-forming member attached to the pedal portion, which forms a first tread above the pedal portion that receives the force when the operating pedal is pressed down, wherein the tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal, and the tread-forming member comprises a main body portion having a tread-forming surface for forming the first tread formed on its upper surface, and the main body portion The pedal has a mounting mechanism provided therein for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, the mounting mechanism having a projection that protrudes downward from the main body and a hook-shaped or anchor-shaped hooking portion provided at the lower end of the projection, the pedal portion is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a plate-shaped bottom portion that extends generally in the front-rear and left-right directions and a peripheral wall portion that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom portion, a hooking hole formed in the bottom portion, and the tread-forming member is attached to the pedal portion by inserting the mounting mechanism into the peripheral wall portion, placing the main body portion on the peripheral wall portion, and hooking the hooking portion onto the hooking hole. Furthermore, a fourth operating pedal system of the present invention is an operating pedal system provided on a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: an operating pedal having an arm portion extending generally in the front-rear direction on the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion protruding outward in the left-right direction on the saddle-type vehicle from the front end of the arm portion; and a tread-forming member attached to the pedal portion, which forms a first tread above the pedal portion that receives the force when the operating pedal is pressed down, wherein the tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal, and the tread-forming member has a main body portion having a tread-forming surface for forming the first tread formed on its upper surface, and a mounting mechanism provided on the main body portion for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, wherein a holder is provided on the part of the saddle-type vehicle other than the operating pedal for holding the tread-forming member removed from the pedal portion in the saddle-type vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal provided on a saddle-type vehicle can be easily adjusted, thereby improving the convenience of adjusting the height position of the operating pedal tread surface. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the shape of the tread surface of the operating pedal provided on a saddle-type vehicle can be easily changed, thereby improving the convenience of changing the shape of the operating pedal tread surface. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing a saddle-type vehicle equipped with a brake pedal system, which is an embodiment of the operating pedal system of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the rear brake system in an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the right. Figure 2(A) shows the state in which a tread-forming member is attached to the pedal portion of the brake pedal, and Figure 2(B) shows the state in which the tread-forming member is not attached to the pedal portion of the brake pedal. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing a top view of a part of the rear brake system in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3(A) shows the state in which a tread-forming member is attached to the pedal portion of the brake pedal, and Figure 3(B) shows the state in which the tread-forming member is not attached to the pedal portion of the brake pedal. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing a view of the pillion footrest unit in an embodiment of the present invention from the right. Figure 4(A) shows the holder without the tread-forming member attached, and Figure 4(B) shows the holder with the tread-forming member attached. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a front view of the cross-section of the pillion footrest unit cut along the cutting line VV. Figure 5(A) shows the holder without the tread-forming member attached, and Figure 5(B) shows the holder with the tread-forming member attached. [Figure 6]It is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the Pirion footrest unit in an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front. FIG. 6(A) shows a state where the tread forming member is not attached to the holder, and FIG. 6(B) shows a state where the tread forming member is attached to the holder. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory diagram showing the tread forming member in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7(A) shows the state of the tread forming member as seen from above, FIG. 7(B) shows the state of the tread forming member as seen from below, FIG. 7(C) shows the state of the tread forming member as seen from the right, and FIG. 7(D) shows the state of the cross section of the tread forming member cut along the cutting line VII-VII in FIG. 7(A) as seen from the right. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram showing a method of attaching the tread forming member to the pedal portion in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Following FIG. 8, it is an explanatory diagram showing a method of attaching the tread forming member to the pedal portion. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the tread forming member in the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] The operation pedal system of the embodiment of the present invention is an operation pedal system provided in a saddle-riding type vehicle, and includes an operation pedal and a tread forming member. The operation pedal has an arm portion that extends substantially in the front-rear direction in the saddle-riding type vehicle, and a pedal portion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction in the saddle-riding type vehicle from the front end portion of the arm portion. Further, the tread forming member is attached to the pedal portion, and forms a first tread surface above the pedal portion to receive the stepping force when the operation pedal is depressed, that is, the stepping force from the foot of the occupant of the saddle-riding type vehicle when the occupant depresses the operation pedal.

[0017] Further, the tread forming member is separate from the operation pedal. The tread forming member has a main body portion on the upper surface thereof, on which a tread forming surface for forming the first tread surface is formed, and an attachment mechanism provided on the main body portion for detachably attaching the tread forming member to the pedal portion.

[0018] According to the operating pedal system of this embodiment, the height position of the operating pedal's tread can be adjusted by attaching and detaching the tread-forming member to the pedal. For example, if a second tread is formed on the upper surface of the pedal, the operating pedal's tread becomes the second tread when the tread-forming member is not attached to the pedal. On the other hand, when the tread-forming member is attached to the pedal, the tread-forming surface of the main body of the tread-forming member is positioned on top of the second tread of the operating pedal. As a result, the tread of the operating pedal becomes the first tread. In this way, by attaching and detaching the tread-forming member to the pedal, the operating pedal's tread can be either the first or second tread, and the height position of the operating pedal's tread can be changed.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the operating pedal system of this embodiment, the mounting mechanism of the tread-forming member can be made, for example, a hook-type, locking type, or magnetic type, allowing the user of the saddle-type vehicle to easily attach the tread-forming member to the pedal part by hand without using tools. This makes it easier to adjust the height position of the operating pedal tread and reduces the time required for adjustment. In addition, it eliminates the need to carry tools such as wrenches, improving convenience for adjusting the height position of the operating pedal tread at the destination. Moreover, according to the operating pedal system of this embodiment, the height position of the operating pedal tread can be easily adjusted, so adjustment can be performed safely even in somewhat unstable places such as the shoulder of an unpaved forest road at the destination, further improving convenience for adjusting the height position of the operating pedal tread.

[0020] Furthermore, in the operating pedal system of this embodiment, the tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal and can be completely separated from the operating pedal. Therefore, when the tread-forming member is not attached to the pedal, it is possible to prevent the tread-forming member from interfering with the operator's operation of pressing the operating pedal.

[0021] The above examples of embodiments of the present invention describe a configuration in which a second tread surface is formed on the upper surface of the pedal, and the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal can be set to either the first or second tread surface by attaching and detaching the tread surface forming member to the pedal. However, other embodiments of the present invention are also conceivable. For example, the configuration of the operating pedal system in an embodiment of the present invention may include the above-mentioned operating pedal and two tread surface forming members having different vertical thicknesses on their main bodies. This allows the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal to be lowered by attaching the tread surface forming member with a thinner main body to the pedal, while the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal can be raised by attaching the tread surface forming member with a thicker main body to the pedal. Furthermore, if the configuration of the operating pedal system in an embodiment of the present invention includes the above-mentioned operating pedal and three or more tread surface forming members having different vertical thicknesses on their main bodies, the height position of the tread surface of the operating pedal can be changed in multiple stages by selecting the tread surface forming member to be attached to the pedal from among these three or more tread surface forming members.

[0022] The above-described embodiment of the present invention involves adjusting the height of the operating pedal's tread by attaching and detaching a tread-forming member to the pedal or by selecting a tread-forming member from among a plurality of tread-forming members to be attached to the pedal. However, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, it is also conceivable that the tread shape of the operating pedal (for example, the area of ​​the tread or the shape of the anti-slip surface formed on the tread) can be changed by attaching and detaching a tread-forming member to the pedal or by selecting a tread-forming member from among a plurality of tread-forming members to be attached to the pedal. In this case, for example, the second tread shape formed on the upper surface of the pedal and the tread-forming surface shape of the main body of the tread-forming member can be made different from each other, or the tread-forming surface shapes of the main bodies of a plurality of tread-forming members can be made different from each other. According to this embodiment, the tread shape of the operating pedal can be easily changed, and the convenience of changing the tread shape of the operating pedal can be improved. [Examples]

[0023] An embodiment of the operating pedal system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments, when describing the directions up (Ud), down (Dd), forward (Fd), backward (Bd), left (Ld), and right (Rd), refer to the arrows drawn in the lower left of each figure.

[0024] (Saddle-type vehicle) Figure 1 shows a saddle-type vehicle 81 equipped with a brake pedal system 1, which is an embodiment of the operating pedal system of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, a seat 85 is provided on the upper part of the saddle-type vehicle 81, from the middle to the rear in the front-rear direction. At the front of the seat 85 is a driver's seat 85A where the occupant of the saddle-type vehicle 81, who operates the saddle-type vehicle 81, sits. At the rear of the seat 85 is a pillion seat 85B where another occupant of the saddle-type vehicle 81, a passenger, sits.

[0025] In addition, in the saddle-type vehicle 81, driver footrests 86 are provided on the lower left and lower right of the driver's seat portion 85A of the seat 85. When operating the saddle-type vehicle 81, the operator places their left and right feet on these driver footrests 86, respectively. In addition, in the saddle-type vehicle 81, pillion footrest units 91 are provided on the lower left front and lower right of the pillion seat portion 85B of the seat 85, respectively. Passengers place their left and right feet on the pillion footrests 92 of these pillion footrest units 91, respectively.

[0026] Furthermore, a rear brake system 51 for braking the rear wheels 84 is provided in the lower part of the saddle-type vehicle 81, from the middle to the rear in the front-rear direction. The rear brake system 51 includes a brake pedal 13, a tread forming member 21, a rear brake master cylinder 55, a rear brake disc 71, a rear brake caliper 72, and a rear brake hose 73, etc.

[0027] (Rear brake system) Figure 2(A) shows a view from the right of the component of the rear brake system 51 that is located to the lower right of the driver's seat portion 85A of the seat 85. Figure 3(A) shows a view from above of the component of the rear brake system 51 shown in Figure 2(A).

[0028] Of the rear brake system 51, the brake pedal 13, the tread forming member 21, and the rear brake master cylinder 55 are located to the lower right of the driver's seat portion 85A of the seat 85 in the saddle-type vehicle 81.

[0029] The brake pedal 13 is supported by a lower bracket 65 fixed to the main frame 82 (see Figure 1) of the saddle-type vehicle 81, via a pedal shaft 52, so as to be able to swing vertically. A pedal spring 53 is also provided on the outer circumference of the pedal shaft 52. When the driver presses the pedal, the front part of the brake pedal 13 moves downward, and then when the pressing operation is released, the front part of the brake pedal 13 moves upward due to the biasing force of the pedal spring 53 and returns to its initial position. In addition, a pedal reinforcing member 54 is provided on the front part of the brake pedal 13 to reinforce the brake pedal 13, as shown in Figure 3(A). A tread-forming member 21 is also attached to the front end of the brake pedal 13. The brake pedal 13 and the tread-forming member 21 will be described in detail later.

[0030] The rear brake master cylinder 55 is supported on the main frame 82 of the saddle-type vehicle 81 via an upper bracket 66 connected to a lower bracket 65. As shown in Figure 2(A), the rear brake master cylinder 55 has a cylinder body 56, a push rod 57, and a yoke 58. The push rod 57 protrudes downward from the cylinder body 56. The yoke 58 is screwed to the lower part of the push rod 57. The rear end of the brake pedal 13 is rotatably connected to the yoke 58 via a connecting pin 59. The push rod 57 is also provided with an adjustment nut portion 60 for rotating the push rod 57 with a tool such as a wrench to adjust the vertical position of the yoke 58 relative to the push rod 57. The push rod 57 is also provided with a fixing nut 61 for fixing the vertical position of the yoke 58 relative to the push rod 57.

[0031] Furthermore, a rear brake switch 62 is provided on the upper bracket 66. The rear brake switch 62 is connected to a connection part 64 provided on the brake pedal 13 via a transmission spring 63. When the brake pedal 13 is pressed and the front part of the brake pedal 13 is displaced downward, that displacement is transmitted to the rear brake switch 62 via the transmission spring 63, and the rear brake switch 62 is turned on, for example. When the rear brake switch 62 is turned on, for example, the brake lamp provided at the rear of the saddle-type vehicle 81 illuminates. In addition, a cover 67 is provided on the upper bracket 66 that covers the rear brake master cylinder 55 and the rear brake switch 62, etc. In Figure 2(A), only the outer shape and holes of the cover 67 are shown by dashed lines, and in Figure 3(A), the cover 67 is not shown.

[0032] The right-side driver's footrest 86 is attached to the lower bracket 65 near the area where the pedal shaft 52 is located, as shown in Figure 2(A). Furthermore, the right-side driver's footrest 86 extends to the right from the lower bracket 65, as shown in Figure 3(A).

[0033] (Pillion footrest unit) Figure 4(A) shows the right pillion footrest unit 91 viewed from the right. Figure 5(A) shows the pillion footrest unit 91 cut along the cutting line VV in Figure 4(A) viewed from the front (right in Figure 4(A)). Figure 6(A) shows the right pillion footrest unit 91 viewed from the front.

[0034] As shown in Figures 4(A), 5(A), and 6(A), the right-side pillion footrest unit 91 has a pillion footrest 92 and a pillion footrest bracket 93 that supports the pillion footrest 92 on the right-side seat rail 83 of the saddle-type vehicle 81 (see Figure 1). The pillion footrest bracket 93 has two columnar sections 94 and 95 that extend downward and outward (left-right) from the right-side seat rail 83. The base ends of the two columnar sections 94 and 95 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The base ends of the two columnar sections 94 and 95 are connected by a beam section 96. The tips of the two columnar sections 94 and 95 are joined to each other. The pillion footrest 92 is attached to the tips of the two joined columnar sections 94 and 95. Although not shown, the left-side pillion footrest unit is formed symmetrically to the right-side pillion footrest unit 91. Furthermore, the right-side pillion footrest unit 91 is provided with a holder 35 for holding the tread-forming member 21 in place on the saddle-type vehicle 81 when the tread-forming member 21 is not in use. The holder 35 will be described later.

[0035] (Brake pedal system) The saddle-type vehicle 81 is equipped with a brake pedal system 1. As shown in Figure 1, the brake pedal system 1 consists of at least a brake pedal 13 and a tread-forming member 21 in the rear brake system 51, and a holder 35 provided on the right-side pillion footrest unit 91. The brake pedal 3 is a specific example of an "operating pedal".

[0036] The brake pedal system 1 has a function to adjust the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread in two stages by attaching and detaching the tread forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13. Figures 2(A) and 3(A) show the state in which the tread forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, while Figures 2(B) and 3(B) show the state in which the tread forming member 21 is not attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13. As shown in Figures 2(A) and 3(A), when the tread forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, a first tread 11 is formed above the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, which receives the force when the driver depresses the brake pedal 13. That is, when the tread forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the tread of the brake pedal 13 becomes the first tread 11. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2(B) and 3(B), a second tread surface 12 is formed on the upper surface of the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, which receives the force applied when the driver depresses the brake pedal 13. When the tread surface forming member 21 is not attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the tread surface of the brake pedal 13 becomes the second tread surface 12. As can be seen from Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the height position of the first tread surface 11 is higher than the height position of the second tread surface 12. The difference in height between the first tread surface 11 and the second tread surface 12 corresponds to the thickness H of the main body portion 22 of the tread surface forming member 21. By attaching the tread surface forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the height position of the tread surface of the brake pedal 13 can be increased, and by removing the tread surface forming member 21 from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the height position of the tread surface of the brake pedal 13 can be decreased.

[0037] Furthermore, the brake pedal system 1 has a function to hold the tread-forming member 21 in the saddle-type vehicle 81 so as not to interfere with the driver's operation of pressing the brake pedal 13, by attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the holder 35 when the tread-forming member 21 is removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13. Figures 4(A) and 5(A) show the state in which the tread-forming member 21 is not attached to the holder 35, and Figures 4(B) and 5(B) show the state in which the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the holder 35. As shown in Figures 4(B) and 5(B), when the tread-forming member 21 is removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the tread-forming member 21 can be held in the saddle-type vehicle 81 by attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the holder 35. The holder 35 is provided on the pillion footrest unit 91, which is located at a distance from the brake pedal 13. Therefore, by attaching the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, to the holder 35, the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, will not interfere with the driver's operation of pressing the brake pedal 13.

[0038] (Brake pedal) As shown in Figures 2(A) and 3(A), the brake pedal 13 has an arm portion 14 and a pedal portion 15. The arm portion 14 is formed in an elongated plate shape, for example, from metal, and extends generally in the front-rear direction. Specifically, when the arm portion 14 is viewed from the right, as shown in Figure 2(A), the rear end portion and the front end portion of the arm portion 14 each extend in the front-rear direction. However, the middle portion of the arm portion 14 in the front-rear direction is curved to form an upward-convex arc in order to avoid interference between the arm portion 14 and the lower bracket 65. Also, when the arm portion 14 is viewed from above, as shown in Figure 3(A), the rear end portion and the front end portion of the arm portion 14 each extend in the front-rear direction. However, the middle portion of the arm portion 14 in the front-rear direction is inclined such that its front portion is displaced to the right of its rear portion. As a result, the front end portion of the arm portion 14 is located to the right of the rear end portion of the arm portion 14. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(A), the rear end portion of the arm 14 is pivotably supported by the lower bracket 65 via the pedal shaft 52, and the rear end of the arm 14 is rotatably connected to the yoke 58 via a connecting pin 59. In addition, a connecting portion 64 is provided approximately in the middle of the arm 14 in the front-rear direction, and the lower end of the transmission spring 63 is connected to the connecting portion 64.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3(B), the pedal portion 15 is provided at the front end of the arm portion 14 and protrudes to the right (outward in the left-right direction) from the front end of the arm portion 14. The pedal portion 15 is located approximately in front of the right-side driver's footrest 86. The pedal portion 15 is formed, for example, from metal, in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top. The pedal portion 15 has a plate-shaped bottom portion 16 that extends generally in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a peripheral wall portion 17 that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom portion 16. When viewed from above, the pedal portion 15 has a roughly trapezoidal shape, with a rectangle having a long side extending in the left-right direction and a short side extending in the front-rear direction, and the front right corner cut off. Also, when viewed from the right, as shown in Figure 2(B), the lowest surface of the pedal portion 15 is below the bottom surface of the front end of the arm portion 14, and the highest surface of the pedal portion 15 is above the top surface of the front end of the arm portion 14. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(B), the left outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 17 is joined to the right surface of the front end of the arm portion 14 by means of welding or other means, thereby fixing the pedal portion 15 to the arm portion 14.

[0040] Furthermore, a second tread surface 12 is formed on the upper surface of the pedal portion 15, specifically on the upper end surface of the peripheral wall portion 17. Also, as shown in Figure 3(B), anti-slip grooves 18 are formed in multiple parts of the upper end surface of the peripheral wall portion 17. As a result, the upper end surface of the peripheral wall portion 17, i.e., the second tread surface 12, has irregularities that function as an anti-slip surface.

[0041] Furthermore, a first hooking hole 19 and two second hooking holes 20 are formed in the bottom 16 of the pedal portion 15. The arrangement and shape of the first hooking hole 19 and each of the second hooking holes 20 are set to correspond to the shape of the lower part of the cylindrical member 29 of the tread-forming member 21 and the hook 32. The first hooking hole 19 is located approximately in the center of the bottom 16, and the two second hooking holes 20 are located in front of and behind the first hooking hole 19, respectively. When the bottom 16 is viewed from above, the first hooking hole 19 has a shape in which an elongated slot that is narrow in the left-right direction and a circular hole with a diameter shorter than the long side of the slot and longer than the short side are superimposed so that the centers of both holes coincide. In the first hooking hole 19, the elongated slot is a hole through which the entire hook 32 of the tread-forming member 21 passes, and the circular hole is a hole into which the lower part of the cylindrical member 29 of the tread-forming member 21 is inserted. Furthermore, the shape of each second hook hole 20 is, for example, a square. Each second hook hole 20 is a hole into which the hooking projection 32A of the hook 32 of the tread forming member 21 is inserted.

[0042] (Tread forming member) The tread-forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, thereby forming a first tread surface 11 above the pedal portion 15. The tread-forming member 21 is separate from the brake pedal 13. That is, when the tread-forming member 21 is removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, the tread-forming member 21 is separated from the brake pedal 13.

[0043] Figures 7(A) to 7(D) show the details of the structure of the tread-forming member 21. Figure 7(A) shows the tread-forming member 21 viewed from above, Figure 7(B) shows the tread-forming member 21 viewed from below, and Figure 7(C) shows the tread-forming member 21 viewed from the right. Figure 7(D) shows the cross-section of the tread-forming member 21 cut along the cutting line VII-VII in Figure 7(A), viewed from the right (below in Figure 7(A)).

[0044] As shown in Figure 7(D), the tread-forming member 21 has a main body 22 and a mounting mechanism 28. The main body 22 is formed in a plate shape, for example, from metal. When viewed from above, as shown in Figure 7(A), the main body 22 has a roughly trapezoidal shape, with the front right corner of a rectangle having a long side extending in the left-right direction and a short side extending in the front-back direction cut off. The shape of the main body 22 when viewed from above is generally similar to the shape of the pedal part 15 when viewed from above, and the size of the main body 22 when viewed from above is larger than the size of the pedal part 15 when viewed from above.

[0045] Furthermore, a tread-forming surface 23, which forms the first tread surface 11, is formed on the upper surface of the main body portion 22. In addition, a plurality of anti-slip protrusions 24 are formed on the tread-forming surface 23, each protruding upward. As a result, the tread-forming surface 23 has irregularities that function as an anti-slip surface.

[0046] Furthermore, in Figure 7(C), the vertical thickness H of the main body 22 is set to a predetermined value. The thickness H determines the amount of change in the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread when the tread forming member 21 is attached to or detached from the pedal 15. In other words, by attaching the tread forming member 21 to the pedal 15, the height of the brake pedal 13's tread increases by the thickness H of the main body 22 compared to before the tread forming member 21 was attached to the pedal 15.

[0047] Furthermore, a fitting portion 25 that protrudes downward is formed on the lower surface of the main body portion 22. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 7(A), the shape of the fitting portion 25 when viewed from above is generally similar to the shape of the pedal portion 15 when viewed from above, and the size of the fitting portion 25 when viewed from above is slightly smaller than the size of the pedal portion 15 when viewed from above. When the tread forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15, the fitting portion 25 is fitted to the inside of the upper part of the peripheral wall portion 17 of the pedal portion 15 with a little play.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(D), a spring housing section 26 for accommodating a retaining spring 30 and the like is formed inside the main body section 22. The spring housing section 26 is open upwards. In addition, in the main body section 22, a through hole 27 is formed in the center of the bottom wall of the spring housing section 26, penetrating the bottom wall in the vertical direction.

[0049] The mounting mechanism 28 is provided on the main body 22 and is a mechanism for detachably attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15. In this embodiment, the mounting mechanism 28 attaches the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 by hooking it onto the pedal portion 15. The mounting mechanism 28 includes a cylindrical member 29, a hooking spring 30, a spring support bolt 31, and a hook 32. The cylindrical member 29 is a specific example of a "protruding part," and the hook 32 is a specific example of a "hooking part."

[0050] The cylindrical member 29 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, from metal, and extends vertically. The upper part of the cylindrical member 29 is located within the spring housing 26, and the lower part of the cylindrical member 29 protrudes downward from the main body 22 through the insertion hole 27. The diameter of the insertion hole 27 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 29, allowing the cylindrical member 29 to move vertically along its axis relative to the main body 22. The cylindrical member 29 can also rotate around its axis relative to the main body 22.

[0051] The retaining spring 30 is a coil spring and is positioned on the outer circumference of the upper part of the cylindrical member 29 within the spring housing 26. The spring support bolt 31 is fixed to the upper part of the cylindrical member 29 by fastening the threads of the spring support bolt 31 to threads formed on the inner circumference of the upper part of the cylindrical member 29. The entire spring support bolt 31 can fit inside the spring housing 26. The retaining spring 30 is sandwiched between the head of the spring support bolt 31 and the bottom wall of the spring housing 26.

[0052] The hook 32 is provided at the lower end of the cylindrical member 29. The hook 32 is made of, for example, metal. The hook has an anchor-shaped plate exterior, and both ends of the hook 32 have upward-projecting latching protrusions 32A. The hook also has a knob-like shape and size and can be held with the fingers. The upper central part of the hook 32 is connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member 29 by a connecting pin 33.

[0053] The cylindrical member 29, the spring support bolt 31, and the hook 32 can move together vertically relative to the main body 22. When the cylindrical member 29, the spring support bolt 31, and the hook 32 move downward relative to the main body 22, the locking spring 30 contracts. When the locking spring 30 contracts, the spring force of the locking spring 30 is applied to the head of the spring support bolt 31, pushing the cylindrical member 29, the spring support bolt 31, and the hook 32 upward relative to the main body 22. In addition, the cylindrical member 29, the spring support bolt 31, and the hook 32 can rotate together around the axis of the cylindrical member 29 relative to the main body 22.

[0054] (Method for attaching and detaching the tread-forming member to the pedal section) Figures 8(A) to 8(B) and 9(A) to 9(F) show the method of attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal section 15. When attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal section 15, the user of the saddle-type vehicle 81 first aligns the orientation of the tread-forming member 21 with the orientation of the pedal section 15, as shown in Figure 8(A), so that the orientation of the approximately trapezoidal shape of the tread-forming member 21 when viewed from above matches the orientation of the approximately trapezoidal shape of the pedal section 15 when viewed from above. Next, the user holds the hook 32 with their fingers and rotates the cylindrical member 29, the spring support bolt 31, and the hook 32 relative to the main body 22, so that the orientation of the hook 32 matches the orientation of the elongated hole in the first hanging hole 19 of the pedal section 15, as shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B).

[0055] Next, the user inserts the mounting mechanism 28 of the main body 22 into the peripheral wall 17 of the pedal section 15 from above, and then inserts the lower part of the hook 32 and the cylindrical member 29 into the first hanging hole 19 of the pedal section 15, thereby placing the main body 22 on the upper end surface of the peripheral wall 17 of the pedal section 15.

[0056] Next, the user grasps the hook 32 inserted into the first hook hole 19 from below with their fingers and pulls the hook 32 downward with a force exceeding the spring force of the locking spring 30. The user then pulls the hook 32 down until it passes through the first hook hole 19 of the pedal portion 15 and moves below the bottom portion 16, as shown in Figures 9(A) and 9(B). As a result, the cylindrical member 29 and the spring support bolt 31 move downward along with the hook 32 relative to the main body portion 22 and the pedal portion 15, and the locking spring 30 contracts.

[0057] Next, the user rotates the hook 32 90 degrees in the direction of arrow a in Figure 9(A), while keeping the hook 32 pulled down in this manner. As a result, the cylindrical member 29 and the spring support bolt 31 rotate 90 degrees relative to the main body 22 and the pedal 15, along with the hook 32. When the hook, cylindrical member 29 and spring support bolt 31 are rotated 90 degrees, the two latching projections 32A formed on the hook 32 are positioned directly below the two second hanging holes 20 formed on the bottom 16 of the pedal 15, as shown in Figures 9(C) and 9(D).

[0058] Next, the user releases their finger from the hook 32. When the finger is released from the hook 32, the spring force of the locking spring 30 causes the hook 32, the cylindrical member 29, and the spring support bolt 31 to move upward relative to the main body 22 and the pedal 15, and as shown in Figures 9(E) and 9(F), the two locking protrusions 32A of the hook 32 are inserted into the two second locking holes 20 of the pedal 15, respectively. As a result, the tread forming member 21 is locked onto the pedal 15.

[0059] Furthermore, when removing the tread-forming member 21 from the pedal portion 15, the user first pulls the hook 32 downward until the two latching projections 32A of the hook 32 protrude from the two second hooking holes 20 of the pedal portion 15, and while keeping it in that position, rotates the hook 32 90 degrees to align the orientation of the hook 32 with the orientation of the elongated hole in the first hooking hole 19 of the pedal portion 15. Next, the user lifts the tread-forming member 21 to separate it from the pedal portion 15.

[0060] (Holder) The holder 35 is a member that holds the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, in the saddle-type vehicle 81. The holder 35 is provided in the saddle-type vehicle 81 in a part other than the brake pedal 13 that is exposed to the outside. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4(A) and 5(A), the holder 35 is provided in the right-side pillion footrest unit 91. Specifically, the holder 35 is provided between the two column portions 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93. The area between the two column portions 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 is an exposed part of the saddle-type vehicle 81 and is a part other than the brake pedal 13. Also, as shown in Figures 4(B) and 5(B), the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal portion 15, is attached to the holder 35 in an exposed state.

[0061] The holder 35 is formed of, for example, metal or resin. The holder 35 has a structure that allows the tread-forming member 21 to be attached to it detachably using the mounting mechanism 28 for the tread-forming member 21. Specifically, the holder 35 has a structure that allows the tread-forming member 21 to be attached to it by hooking the hook 32 of the tread-forming member 21 onto itself. The holder 35 may have the same structure, shape, and size as the pedal part 15. In this embodiment, the same parts as the pedal part 15 are used as the holder 35. The user can attach and detach the tread-forming member 21 to the holder 35 in the same way that the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the pedal part 15. As in this embodiment, by using the same parts as the pedal part 15 as the holder 35, parts can be standardized and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, the holder 35 is fixed to one column of the pillion footrest bracket 93 via a holder bracket 36. For example, the holder bracket 36 is made of metal, and the holder 35 is fixed to the holder bracket 36 by means of welding or other means. The holder bracket 36 is fixed to a bracket fixing portion 38 formed on the front column 94 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 using fixing members 37 such as bolts.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(A), the holder 35 is positioned so as not to protrude outward (to the right) from between the two pillars 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front. Specifically, when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front, the outer surfaces of the two pillars 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 extend downward and to the right from the seat rail 83. The entire holder 35 is recessed inward (to the lower left) from the outer surfaces of these two pillars 94 and 95.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shape of the tread-forming member 21 and the arrangement of the tread-forming member 21 when it is attached to the holder 35 are set such that when the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the holder 35, the tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 does not protrude outward (to the right) in the left-right direction from between the two column portions 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front. That is, a space S is formed on the lower left side (inward and downward in the left-right direction) of each column portion 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 6(B). When the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front, this space S generally has a trapezoidal shape in which the upper and lower bases extend in the left-right direction, the upper base is shorter than the lower base, the left (inward) leg extends in the up-down direction, and the right (outward) leg slopes to the right (outward) from top to bottom. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7(A), when the tread-forming member 21 is viewed from above, the main body portion 22 of the tread-forming member 21 has a roughly trapezoidal shape, with the front right corner of a rectangle having a longer side extending in the left-right direction and a shorter side extending in the front-back direction cut off. In this way, the shape of the tread-forming member 21 when viewed from above is set to be roughly similar to the shape of the space S when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the holder 35, the tread-forming member 21 is positioned such that the shape of the tread-forming member 21 when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is viewed from the front is roughly a trapezoid, with the upper and lower bases extending in the left-right direction, the upper base being shorter than the lower base, the left leg extending in the up-down direction, and the right leg sloping to the right from top to bottom. Thus, when the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the holder 35, the arrangement of the tread-forming member 21 is set so that the orientation of the trapezoidal shape of the tread-forming member 21 when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81 aligns with the orientation of the trapezoidal shape of the space S when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81. As a result, the entire tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 fits completely within the space S formed on the lower left side of each column portion 94, 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93.

[0065] As described above, the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment of the present invention includes a tread-forming member 21 that is attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13 to form a tread above the pedal portion 15. The tread-forming member 21 has a main body portion 22 on which a tread-forming surface 23 is formed on its upper surface, and a mounting mechanism 28 for attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 in a detachable manner. With this configuration, according to the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, the height position of the tread of the brake pedal 13 can be adjusted by attaching and detaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13.

[0066] Furthermore, in the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, a tread-forming surface 23 that forms the first tread 11 is formed on the upper surface of the tread-forming member 21, and a second tread 12 is formed on the upper surface of the pedal portion 15. When the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the pedal portion 15, the tread of the brake pedal 13 becomes the first tread 11, and when the tread-forming member 21 is not attached to the pedal portion 15, the tread of the brake pedal 13 becomes the second tread 12. With this configuration, the height position of the tread of the brake pedal 13 can be adjusted in two stages by attaching and detaching a single tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15.

[0067] Furthermore, in the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, the tread forming member 21 has an attachment mechanism 28 that attaches the tread forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 by hooking it onto the pedal portion 15. This configuration makes it possible to attach and detach the tread forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 without using tools such as a wrench. As a result, the user can easily and quickly attach and detach the tread forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15. Since no tools are required to attach and detach the tread forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15, the user can easily adjust the height position of the brake pedal 13 tread even when traveling, even if they do not have tools with them. Also, because the tread forming member 21 can be attached and detached from the pedal portion 15 in this easy manner, the user can safely adjust the height position of the brake pedal 13 tread even in somewhat unstable places, such as the shoulder of an unpaved forest road. Thus, the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment can improve the convenience of adjusting the height position of the brake pedal tread.

[0068] Furthermore, in the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, the mounting mechanism 28 for the tread-forming member 21 has a cylindrical member 29 protruding downward from the main body 22 and an anchor-shaped hook 32 provided at the lower end of the cylindrical member 29. The pedal portion 15 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom portion 16 and a peripheral wall portion 17, and a first hooking hole 19 and a second hooking hole 20 are formed in the bottom portion 16. The user can easily attach the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 by inserting the mounting mechanism 28 into the peripheral wall portion 17, placing the main body 22 on the peripheral wall portion 17, passing the hook 32 through the first hooking hole 19, and inserting the hooking projection 32A of the hook 32 into the second hooking hole 20. The state in which each hooking projection 32A of the hook 32 is inserted into the second hooking hole 20 is maintained by the spring force of the hooking spring 30. This allows the tread-forming member 21 to remain attached to the pedal portion 15, preventing it from coming off the pedal portion 15 due to vibrations during the ride of the saddle-type vehicle 81.

[0069] Furthermore, in the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, the tread-forming member 21 is separate from the brake pedal 13 and can be completely separated from the brake pedal 13. Therefore, when the tread-forming member 21 is removed from the pedal portion 15, that is, when the tread-forming member 21 is not in use, it is possible to prevent the tread-forming member 21 from interfering with the driver's operation of pressing the brake pedal 13.

[0070] Furthermore, the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment includes a holder 35 that holds the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal section 15, in the saddle-type vehicle 81. The holder 35 is provided on the right-side pillion footrest unit 91. The pillion footrest unit 91 is a part of the saddle-type vehicle 81 other than the brake pedal 13, and is located far away from the brake pedal 13. By providing the holder 35 in this part to hold the tread-forming member 21, it is possible to prevent the tread-forming member 21 from interfering with the driver's operation of pressing the brake pedal 13 when not in use. In addition, by providing the holder 35 that holds the tread-forming member 21 when not in use in the saddle-type vehicle 81, the user can easily carry the tread-forming member 21 when moving in the saddle-type vehicle 81, and it is also possible to prevent the user from forgetting to carry the tread-forming member 21. Furthermore, by carrying the tread-forming member 21 with them at all times, users can immediately and reliably adjust the height of the brake pedal 13's tread when necessary while traveling.

[0071] Furthermore, the tread-forming member 21, which has been removed from the pedal portion 15, is attached to the pillion footrest unit 91, which is exposed to the outside in the saddle-type vehicle 81, in an exposed state. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the saddle-type vehicle 81 from becoming dirty due to mud falling from the tread-forming member 21. In other words, when the saddle-type vehicle 81 is driven on an unpaved road or the like with the tread-forming member 21 attached to the pedal portion 15 of the brake pedal 13, mud and other debris may adhere to the tread-forming member 21. If this tread-forming member 21 with mud and other debris attached were to be housed in an interior chamber of the saddle-type vehicle 81 (for example, the space under the seat surrounded by the seat cowl and seat), it is conceivable that the mud and other debris attached to the tread-forming member 21 would fall into the chamber and dirty the interior. In contrast, in the brake pedal system 1 of this embodiment, a holder 35 is provided on the part of the saddle-type vehicle 81 that is exposed to the outside, similar to the pillion footrest unit 91, and the tread-forming member 21 that has been removed from the pedal part 15 is attached to the holder 35 in an exposed state. As a result, mud and other debris attached to the tread-forming member 21 falls to the ground. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the saddle-type vehicle 81 from becoming dirty due to mud and other debris attached to the tread-forming member 21.

[0072] Furthermore, the holder 35 is provided between the two columnar portions 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93. This ensures ease of attaching and detaching the tread-forming member 21 to the holder 35, while preventing the holder 35 and the tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 from interfering with the passenger.

[0073] Furthermore, the holder 35 is positioned so that, when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81, it does not protrude outward in the left-right direction from between the two pillars 94 and 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93. This enhances the effect of preventing the holder 35 and the tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 from interfering with the passenger.

[0074] Furthermore, the shape of the tread-forming member 21 when viewed from above is set to be roughly similar to the shape of the space S formed on the inside and below each column portion 94, 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81. In addition, when the tread-forming member 21 is attached to the holder 35, the arrangement of the tread-forming member 21 is set so that the orientation of the shape of the tread-forming member 21 when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81 matches the orientation of the shape of the space S when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81. This shape and arrangement of the tread-forming member 21 prevents the tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 from protruding outward in the left-right direction from between the two column portions 94, 95 of the pillion footrest bracket 93 when viewed from the front of the saddle-type vehicle 81. Therefore, the effect of preventing the tread-forming member 21 attached to the holder 35 from interfering with the passenger can be enhanced.

[0075] In the above embodiment, a configuration was given in which the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread is adjusted in two stages by attaching and detaching a single tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 10(A) and 10(B), a configuration may be provided in which multiple tread-forming members 101 and 102 with different thicknesses H of the main body portion 22 are provided, and the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread is adjusted by switching these tread-forming members 101 and 102 on the pedal portion 15. For example, when driving on a paved road, tread-forming member 101 is attached to the pedal portion 15, and when driving on an unpaved road, tread-forming member 102 is attached to the pedal portion 15. By providing three or more tread-forming members with different thicknesses H of the main body portion 22, it becomes possible to adjust the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread in multiple stages.

[0076] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes the case of adjusting the height position of the brake pedal 13's tread surface, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may also be used to change the shape of the brake pedal 13's tread surface. For example, as shown in Figures 10(C) and 10(D), a plurality of tread-forming members 103 and 104 with different areas of tread-forming surface 23 may be provided, and the area of ​​the brake pedal 13's tread surface may be changed by replacing these tread-forming members 103 and 104 with the pedal portion 15. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 10(E) and 10(F), a plurality of tread-forming members 105 and 106 with different shapes of anti-slip 121 formed on the tread-forming surface 23 may be provided, and the shape of the anti-slip 121 on the brake pedal 13's tread surface may be changed by replacing these tread-forming members 105 and 106 with the pedal portion 15.

[0077] Furthermore, although the shape of the hook 32 of the mounting mechanism 28 for the tread-forming member 21 in the above embodiment is anchor-shaped, the shape of the hook 32 may also be hook-shaped. Also, the method of attaching the tread-forming member 21 to the pedal portion 15 is not limited to hooking, but may also be locking or may use magnetic force. In any of these methods, the tread-forming member 21 can be attached to and detached from the pedal portion 15 without using tools.

[0078] Furthermore, in the saddle-type vehicle 81, the part where the holder 35 is provided is not limited to the right pillion footrest unit 91, as long as it is a part other than the brake pedal and is exposed to the outside. For example, it could be the left pillion footrest unit or any other part.

[0079] Furthermore, the operating pedal system of the present invention can be applied not only to the brake pedal but also to other operating pedals (for example, rotary-type shift pedals, etc.) provided on saddle-type vehicles. Although Figure 1 shows an off-road type motorcycle, the present invention can be applied to various saddle-type vehicles.

[0080] Furthermore, the present invention may be modified as appropriate, provided that it does not contradict the gist or idea of ​​the invention as can be read from the claims and the specification as a whole, and an operating pedal system with such modifications is also included in the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Brake pedal system (operating pedal system) 11 First tread 12. Second tread 13. Brake pedal (operating pedal) 14 Arm section 15 Pedal section 16 Bottom 17 Peripheral wall section 19. First hanging hole (hanging hole) 20. Second hanging hole (hanging hole) 21 Tread forming member 22 Main body 23 Tread forming surface 28 Mounting mechanism 29. Cylindrical member (protruding part) 32 Hooks (hanging parts) 35 Holder 81 Saddle-type vehicle 91 Pillion Footrest Unit 92 Pillion Footrest 93 Pillion Footrest Bracket 94, 95 Column section

Claims

1. An operating pedal system installed in a saddle-type vehicle, An operating pedal having an arm portion that extends generally in the front-rear direction in the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the arm portion in the saddle-type vehicle, The pedal portion is attached to the pedal portion, and a tread-forming member is provided to form a first tread surface above the pedal portion that receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down. The aforementioned tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal. The aforementioned tread-forming member is A main body portion having a tread-forming surface on its upper surface that forms the first tread, The main body is provided with a mounting mechanism for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, A second tread is formed on the upper surface of the pedal portion, which receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down, when the tread forming member is removed from the pedal portion. An operating pedal system characterized in that the height of the first tread formed by attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion is higher than the height of the second tread.

2. An operating pedal system provided for a saddle-type vehicle, An operating pedal having an arm portion that extends generally in the front-rear direction in the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the arm portion in the saddle-type vehicle, The pedal portion is attached to the pedal portion, and a tread-forming member is provided to form a first tread surface above the pedal portion that receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down. The aforementioned tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal. The aforementioned tread-forming member is A main body portion having a tread-forming surface on its upper surface that forms the first tread, The main body is provided with a mounting mechanism for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, The mounting mechanism is characterized by attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion by hooking it onto the pedal portion, thereby enabling the operation pedal system.

3. An operating pedal system provided for a saddle-type vehicle, An operating pedal having an arm portion that extends generally in the front-rear direction in the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the arm portion in the saddle-type vehicle, The pedal portion is attached to the pedal portion, and a tread-forming member is provided to form a first tread surface above the pedal portion that receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down. The aforementioned tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal. The aforementioned tread-forming member is A main body portion having a tread-forming surface on its upper surface that forms the first tread, The main body is provided with a mounting mechanism for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, The mounting mechanism has a projection that protrudes downward from the main body and a hook-shaped or anchor-shaped hooking portion provided at the lower end of the projection. The pedal portion is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a plate-shaped bottom portion that extends generally in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, and a peripheral wall portion that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom portion. A hanging hole is formed in the bottom. The tread-forming member is attached to the pedal by inserting the mounting mechanism into the peripheral wall, placing the main body on the peripheral wall, and hooking the hook into the hook hole, characterized in that the tread-forming member is attached to the pedal.

4. An operating pedal system provided on a saddle-type vehicle, An operating pedal having an arm portion that extends generally in the front-rear direction in the saddle-type vehicle, and a pedal portion that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the front end of the arm portion in the saddle-type vehicle, The pedal portion is attached to the pedal portion, and a tread-forming member is provided to form a first tread surface above the pedal portion that receives the force applied when the operating pedal is pressed down. The aforementioned tread-forming member is separate from the operating pedal. The aforementioned tread-forming member is A main body portion having a tread-forming surface on its upper surface that forms the first tread, The main body is provided with a mounting mechanism for detachably attaching the tread-forming member to the pedal portion, An operating pedal system characterized in that, in the saddle-type vehicle, a holder is provided in a part other than the operating pedal for holding the tread-forming member, which has been removed from the pedal, to the saddle-type vehicle.

5. The holder is provided in the saddle-type vehicle in a part other than the operating pedal and in a part that is exposed to the outside. The operating pedal system according to claim 4, characterized in that the tread-forming member removed from the pedal portion is attached to the holder in an externally exposed state.

6. The aforementioned saddle-type vehicle is provided with a pillion footrest unit having a pillion footrest and a pillion footrest bracket that supports the pillion footrest on the saddle-type vehicle. The operating pedal system according to claim 5, characterized in that the holder is provided on the pillion footrest unit.

7. The pillion footrest bracket extends outward from the saddle-type vehicle in the left-right direction and has two spaced-apart column portions. The operating pedal system according to claim 6, characterized in that the holder is provided between the two columnar portions.

8. The operating pedal system according to claim 7, characterized in that the holder is positioned so as not to protrude outward in the left-right direction from between the two pillars when the saddle-type vehicle is viewed from the front.

Images