Sliding Heel Pad Height Adjustment for Vehicle Posture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large- or medium-sized vehicles, such as trucks, pose challenges for drivers of varying body sizes to maintain an optimum driving posture due to limitations in seat and pedal alignment, with existing solutions being complex or unsuitable for these vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A sliding-type heel pad with a height adjustment function, featuring a step-like surface and sliding mechanism, allows drivers to adjust the heel pad's height using an operation button, ensuring comfortable posture regardless of body size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heel pad with fixed height is provided on the floor panel, then drivers of smaller body size can maintain comfortable posture, but drivers of average or larger body size experience uncomfortable posture with sharply bent knees
Solution Approach 1:
The heel pad is designed with a sliding mechanism that allows it to move freely in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This dynamic capability enables the heel pad to adjust its position automatically according to different driver body sizes, allowing drivers of various heights to maintain comfortable driving postures without fixed height limitations
2Adaptability or versatility
If a system adjusting pedal and panel positions together with seat alignment is implemented, then drivers can assume optimum posture regardless of body size, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates the heel pad as an independent adjustable component, separating it from the complex integrated system of seat and pedal adjustment. By focusing adjustment functionality solely on the heel pad, the system achieves adaptability for different body sizes without requiring complex coordination of multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The heel pad incorporates a self-adjusting sliding mechanism that automatically adapts to different driver positions and body sizes without requiring complex electronic control systems or coordinated adjustment of multiple components. The simple sliding structure allows the heel pad to serve itself in adapting to various drivers
Data Source
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AI summary
A sliding-type heel pad with height adjustment function according to the present invention includes: a pad main body having an upper surface that varies in height from a floor panel inside a vehicle cabin depending on a position at which a driver touches the pad main body by heel; a sliding mechanism for moving the pad main body toward or away from a pedal disposed inside the cabin; and a stopper mechanism for restricting sliding movement of the pad main body by the sliding mechanism.