PEDAL APPARATUS

Abstract

There is provided an inexpensive pedal device in a compact and simple configuration of the one-pedal scheme, wherein the pedal device may be attached to an existing brake pedal without remodeling the brake pedal, wherein the pedal device does not cause the pedal stepping surface to project toward a driver, wherein an accelerator and a brake are operable with the driver's right heel in contact with the floor, wherein upon braking the pedal device always operates toward a direction to close the accelerator, and wherein the pedal device allows some deviation of a pedal-stepping position. A pedal device, comprising: a frame consisting of a bracket attachable to an existing brake pedal, and a base projecting rightward from the bracket; an accelerator pad attached to an upper surface of the base so that the accelerator pad is smoothly slidable rightward and leftward through a slide mechanism provided on the upper surface of the base; and a transmission unit for transmitting a position of the accelerator pad to an accelerator device of a vehicle, wherein the base is sloped downward toward the bracket, wherein the accelerator pad is shaped so that its stepping surface is not higher than a stepping surface of the brake pedal when the accelerator pad is at its leftmost position, wherein the accelerator pad comprises a biasing unit for biasing the accelerator pad leftward, and wherein the base is provided on the bracket at an angle so that the right end of the base is closer to a driver.

Claims

1. A pedal device, comprising: a frame consisting of a bracket attachable to an existing brake pedal, and a base projecting rightward from the bracket; an accelerator pad attached to an upper surface of the base so that the accelerator pad is smoothly slidable rightward and leftward through a slide mechanism provided on the upper surface of the base; and a transmission unit for transmitting a position of the accelerator pad to an accelerator device of a vehicle, wherein the base is sloped downward toward the bracket, wherein the accelerator pad is shaped so that its stepping surface is not higher than a stepping surface of the brake pedal when the accelerator pad is at its leftmost position, and wherein the accelerator pad comprises a biasing unit for biasing the accelerator pad leftward.

2. The pedal device of claim 1, wherein the base is provided on the bracket at an angle so that the right end of the base is closer to a driver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedal device according to an embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pedal device according to the embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of the pedal device according to the embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a side view of the pedal device in use, wherein it is attached to an existing brake pedal viewed from its right side;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the pedal device during acceleration (the accelerator is open);

[0030] FIG. 6 is a front view of the pedal device during acceleration (the accelerator is open);

[0031] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the pedal device upon braking (the accelerator is closed); and

[0032] FIG. 8 is a front view of the pedal device upon braking (the accelerator is closed).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pedal device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pedal device; and FIG. 3 is a front view of the pedal device viewed from the direction of an arrow V in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side view of the pedal device in use, attached to a existing brake pedal B, seen from the right side of the pedal device. Also, FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 are diagrams showing operations and actions of the pedal device 1: wherein FIG. 5 is a plan view during acceleration (the accelerator is open); FIG. 6 is a front view during acceleration; FIG. 7 is a plan view in braking (the accelerator is closed); and FIG. 8 is a front view during braking.

[0034] The pedal device 1 consists of a frame 10 with a configuration having a generally box-shaped bracket 10a and a base 10b, which is a rectangular plate material, wherein the bracket 10a is attachable to the brake pedal B so that the bracket 10a covers a pedal pad Bp of the brake pedal B, and wherein the right side of the bracket 10a extends downward, and from its lower end, the base 10b projects rightward; an accelerator pad 20 attached to the upper surface of the base 10b so that the accelerator pad 20 is smoothly slidable rightward and leftward, i.e., along the longitudinal axial line of the base 10b through a slide mechanism 11 provided on the upper surface of the base 10b; and a wire cable 12 as means for transmitting a displacement of the accelerator pad 20 to an existing accelerator device (not shown).

[0035] Since the right side of the bracket 10a is angled rightward relative to the axial line in the front-back direction by an offset angle d1, the axial line of the accelerator pad 20 sliding direction is also offset by the angle d1 towards the driver. Also, the base 10b is angled upward relative to the upper surface of the bracket 10a by an offset angle d2, and the accelerator pad 20 slides along this slope on the base 10a. The angles d1, d2 may be set arbitrarily with respect to the acceptable sliding distance S of the accelerator pad 20, but are preferably 13 when the acceptable sliding distance is set to 40 mm.

[0036] By providing such an offset angle d1, the distance between the driver's heel and the accelerator pad 20 remains constant, allowing smooth operation of ramping up the accelerator when the driver places her/his heel on the floor and rotates her/his toes outward to ramp up the accelerator. Also, by providing the offset angle d2, a forward stepping pressure upon braking will be converted to a vector towards a lower left direction, forcing the accelerator pad 20 to move leftward and generating bias to ramp down the accelerator to thereby ensure the braking.

[0037] Viewed from the V direction, the accelerator pad 20 is a generally trapezoidal block tapered toward right, and configured so that its upper surface, which will be a stepping surface, becomes parallel with the upper surface of the bracket 10a when the accelerator pad 20 is attached on the base 10b, wherein a fringe 21 is provided on the right end of the upper surface of the accelerator pad 20 so that an outer side of the driver's right fifth toe will abut the fringe 21. The accelerator pad 20 has a height which allows the stepping surface of the accelerator pad 20 to be lower than the upper surface of the bracket 10a, at least at the left end of the base 10b. Accordingly, the front part of the driver's foot is stopped by the bracket 10a when stepping down upon braking, thus eliminating the risk of the foot stepping off the pedal device 1 unintentionally. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, since the stepping surface of the accelerator pad 20 has the same angle as the stepping surface of the pedal pad Bp of the existing brake pedal B, and since both stepping surfaces have the same distance from the driver's knee, conventional and natural operational experience will be achieved because there will not be space created between the seating surface and the bottom side of the driver's thigh caused by the elevated foot of the driver.

[0038] Note that the entirety or at least the stepping surface of the accelerator pad 20 is made of rubber, and the accelerator pad 20 is provided with an indented pattern for preventing slippage. Also, the gap between the left end of the accelerator pad 20 and the bracket 10 is covered with a dust boot 22, which is stretchable according to the movement of the accelerator pad 20, and the dust boot 22 prevents foreign matter and/or dust from entering the gap.

[0039] The configuration of the slide mechanism 11 is not shown, but it may be any configuration allowing the accelerator pad 20 to smoothly slide in the left-right direction within the acceptable sliding range S, and the configuration may have, for example, a combination of a rail or rails in the axial direction and rollers or bearings, and stoppers at both ends for restricting the movement of the accelerator pad 20 within the acceptable sliding range S.

[0040] One end of the wire cable 12 is fixed at the left end of the accelerator pad 20, and the other end of the wire cable 12 is connected to the existing accelerator device, wherein the movement of the accelerator pad 20 mechanically causes the accelerator device to open or close. The wire cable 12 is provided through inside the bracket 10a along a stay Bs of the brake pedal B and lead out upward so that the wire cable 12 does not interfere with the movement of the pedal device 1 and/or the driver's left foot, wherein the wire cable 12 is covered with a tube 13 inside the bracket 10a and where the wire cable 12 is exposed.

[0041] Although a specific configuration of the pedal device according to the present invention has been described, it should be noted that the present invention should not be limited by the above embodiment, that improvements or modifications may be made within the technical idea of the present invention, and that those improvements or modifications fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0042] The present invention may be applied in that it is attached to an existing brake pedal of various automobiles, etc., wherein the wire cable may be connected and linked with an accelerator device after removing its accelerator pedal. Since the present invention does not require large-scale modification on the vehicle side and it is simple and non-bulky, it may be widely used at a low cost for even light motor vehicles. Also, compared with the conventional one-pedal scheme, the present invention does not significantly change the driver's operability and driving posture, and therefore, it is easier for senior drivers to adapt to the present invention.