DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a vehicle. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a passenger footrest assembly for the vehicle capable of carrying at least one passenger.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, vehicles capable of carrying at least one passenger including motorcycles and scooters are provided with an occupant footrest extending in a vehicle width direction from both sides of a body frame thereof. Said occupant footrest serves to provide comfortable resting position for feet of the occupant. Besides providing comfort for resting of feet, the occupant footrest also serves to absorb vibrations. Typically, an occupant footrest comprises a footrest holder and an elastic sleeve disposed over said footrest holder. A variety of casting/moulding and fabrication processes may be used to manufacture the occupant footrest holder based on type of material selected for the same. Typically, occupant footrests extending from either sides of a body frame of the vehicle are provided in a vehicle so that an occupant can comfortably place his feet while riding. Generally, the occupant footrests provided are foldable in nature so that they do not protrude outwards when not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0004] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a scooter type vehicle employing a footrest assembly according to the present invention.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a footrest assembly in folded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates the footrest assembly in an unfolded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the footrest assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a footrest assembly in the folded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the footrest assembly in the unfolded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[00010] Fig. 7 illustrates a sectional view of a footrest assembly in the folded condition according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[00011] Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view of the footrest assembly in the unfolded condition according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00012] Typically, a passenger footrest is used by the pillion rider seated on the vehicle, for example, a motorcycle or a scooter type vehicle. The passenger footrest supports the legs of the pillion rider. The pillion rider has to most often bend and flip open the passenger footrest whenever required. It is cumbersome for the pillion rider to bend and open the passenger footrest due to inaccessibility and the force that has to be applied by the pillion rider to open the passenger footrest. Furthermore, in recent times, with advent of technology, easily operable footrests are preferred and retractable type footrests are preferred over the rigid footrests to improve the appearance of the vehicle.
[00013] A hands free mechanism of providing a foldable footrest is known in the art. The hands free mechanism includes unfolding the footrest by pressing a button located at a footrest guide pin. The hands free mechanism further includes a pivotably mounted spring loaded footrest member for occupying folded and unfolded positions. The footrest member is pivotally mounted in a footrest holder by a guide pin that enables rotational movement of the footrest member from its unfolded position to a folded position and vice versa. Further, a lock bush is used to obtain the locking in the folded position; the lock bush is fixed to the guide pin of the footrest assembly. Further, a compression cum torsion spring is used to get the required spring force when the footrest is in its folded position. Further, the lock bush is mated with the guide pin configured with a slot capable of engaging with the footrest holder assembly. Such an arrangement is used to obtain locking of the footrest in the unfolded position. The lock bush is capable of rotating with the guide pin of the footrest assembly.
[00014] The disadvantage with the above said hands free mechanism is that the footrest assembly including all the parts as mentioned above rotates along with the footrest, whenever the footrest is folded and unfolded. Further, due to movement of entire footrest assembly, the guide pin is subject to wear and tear. Furthermore, a dome nut which is used to provide pre tension to the spring has a very small head and can be painful to operate by the user. A major disadvantage of the current methods is that the user often struggles to deploy the footrest by applying lateral actuation force to open the footrest. For a human leg in seated condition, it is more effective to apply vertical actuation force or movement as compared to lateral movement or force. In the known arts, the user either uses frictional force between his foot or footwear and the footrest contacting surface to deploy the footrest. Sometimes, user tends to try and insert his foot, toes or part of footwear in available gap between footrest and the vehicle body or any other vicinity part and try to rotate the footrest to open condition. Often, with difficulty in opening, users tend to use their hand to open the footrest which is very inconvenient. Therefore, there is need for a better method of deploying the footrest to open condition which overcomes above stated problems & drawbacks.
[00015] The present invention, proposes a simpler and user friendly mechanism. The various aspects of the proposed invention are as follows.
[00016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the footrest assembly comprises of a footrest holder, a footrest member, a pin member to hold the footrest member to the footrest holder, an elastic member responsible for retractable movement of the footrest member. Further, the footrest assembly also comprises of an actuating member to provide up and down movement to the pin member. Furthermore, the pin member is locked between the footrest holder and the footrest member by a restraining member.
[00017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, whenever there is a need to the user to use the passenger footrest, the user presses top of the pin member with his/her feet. Upon pressing the top of the pin member, the footrest member is opened and is available to the user for resting his/her feet.
[00018] The pin member includes a pin head and a body portion following the pin head. The pin head of the pin member acts as a button which can be used by the user in order to flip open the footrest member. Further, the pin member is configured to include one or more protrusions.
[00019] Upon pressing the pin head of the pin member, the pin member is moved down which also compresses the actuating member disposed in between a first projection of the footrest holder and the pin head. The actuating member is pressed against the first projection of the footrest holder and is compressed. The downward movement of the pin member causes a first protrusion and a second protrusion of the one or more protrusions to get disengaged with one or more receiving portions provided on the first projection and a second projection of the footrest holder. Further, upon downward movement of the pin member, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are also disengaged with the one or more receiving portions provided on a first and a second attaching portion of the one or more attaching portions of the footrest member. Since, the receiving portions of the footrest member are left free and does not involve any engaging portions, the footrest member is free to move and further, due to the loaded elastic member holding the footrest member to the footrest holder, the elastic member tries to retain its non-compressed state, which in turn is facilitated by the free to move/open footrest member. Therefore, by virtue of the loaded elastic member and the lack of engaging portions with the one or more receiving portions of the footrest member, the footrest member is free to flip open. Therefore, by a simple click of the pin head of the pin member, the user can easily use the footrest member to rest his/her feet.
[00020] After usage of the footrest member by the user, the footrest member can be put back to its closed condition by pushing it manually by the user. Upon pushing back, the footrest member to be closer to the footrest holder, the elastic member is compressed and the one or more receiving portions of the first and second attaching portions of the footrest member gets aligned with the one or more receiving portions disposed on the first and second projections of the footrest holder. The alignment of the one or more receiving portions facilitates the one or more protrusions of the pin member to slide through them and make the pin member to move upwards. The pin member is always ready to move upwards in the folded condition due to the presence of the compressed actuating member, which was compressed during unfolded condition by the user. Therefore, the pin member moves upwards making the pin head of the pin member again available for the user if he/she has to use the footrest member again.
[00021] Hence, a simple and effective mechanism to operate the footrest assembly is provided according the present invention.
[00022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the footrest assembly is configured such that at least a portion of the second protrusion of the pin member is always engaged with a second receiving portion of the one or more receiving portion of the footrest holder. The footrest holder being a stationary member does not allow the pin member to rotate along with the footrest member. Since, the at least a portion of the second protrusion is always engaged with the footrest holder, the pin member also remains stationary in both the folded condition and the unfolded condition. Furthermore, the pin member is allowed to move only about the pin axis, which is only upwards and downwards. The rotational movement of the pin member is arrested by providing engaging portion between the pin member and the footrest holder. Since, the pin member only moves about its axis and is allowed to rotate, the wear and tear of the pin member is considerably reduced and a more durable and stable working of the footrest assembly is achieved according to the proposed invention.
[00023] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of parts in the footrest assembly is substantially reduced and a simpler and cost effective mechanism is achieved.
[00024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more protrusions of the pin member are any of the rectangular, triangular, semi-circulars in shape. Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more receiving portions are any of the rectangular or rounded rectangular shaped.
[00025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pin member according to the present invention is for example a clevis pin with a circular shape or a ‘D’ shaped.
[00026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pin head of the pin member is covered by a covering member.
[00027] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[00028] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the scooter type vehicle. The vehicle 100 has a body frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together, which usually supports the body of the said vehicle. The vehicle 100 has a steerable front wheel 101 and a driven rear wheel 102. The body frame assembly of the vehicle 100 is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the vehicle 100. It is generally convex in shape, as viewed from a side elevation view. The said frame assembly includes a head tube (not shown), a main frame and also may have a sub-frame. The sub-frame is attached to the main frame using appropriate joining mechanism. The frame assembly is covered by a plurality of vehicle body covers including a front panel 104, an under-seat cover 105, a cooling vent assembly 106, a rear cover 113, a front panel bottom 107, and a side panel 109. A footrest assembly 116 for the purpose of resting the user’s feet is provided on either side of the scooter type vehicle 100. The footrest assembly is disposed at a close proximity to the side panel 109.
[00029] A handlebar assembly 110 and a seat assembly 103 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 108, which functions as a step through space. The seat for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rear side of floorboard 108. A front fender 111 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the said vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender (not shown) is placed between fuel tank and rear wheel 102, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 102. Rear fender inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel 102.
[00030] Suspensions are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. A front suspension assembly (not shown) is connected to a front fork 112. The rear suspension assembly comprises of at least one rear suspension preferably on the left side of the vehicle. However, a vehicle with two rear suspensions, namely on the left side and the right side is also possible. For the safety of the user and in conformance with the traffic rules, a headlight 114 in the front portion of the vehicle and a tail lamp assembly 115 in the rear portion of the vehicle is also provided.
[00031] Fig. 2 illustrates a footrest assembly in folded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. The footrest assembly comprises of a footrest holder 201 to support a footrest member 202. The footrest member 202 is functionally coupled to the footrest holder 201. A pin member 204 is capable of holding the footrest member 202 to the footrest holder 201. An actuating member 205 is disposed in between the pin member 204 and a portion of the footrest holder 201. The actuating member 205 is capable of undergoing compression and retains its original state upon application and withdrawal of force respectively. Further, an elastic member 203 acts as a connecting member between the footrest member 202 and the footrest holder 201 and the elastic member 203 provides rotational movement to the footrest member 202 about a pin axis pq passing longitudinally through the pin member 204. Furthermore, as evident from the figure, the footrest member 202 remains closer to the footrest holder 201 in the folded condition.
[00032] Fig. 3 illustrates the footrest assembly in an unfolded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the unfolded condition, the footrest member 202 is away from the footrest holder 201. The elastic member 203, which is compressed during the folded condition, always, tries to retain its non-compressed state, hence, when facilitated to retain its non-compressed state, the elastic member 203 retains its original position, and in turn, the footrest member 202 which is attached to the elastic member also opens. In the unfolded condition, the pin member 204 is pushed down by the user. The actuating member 205 is disposed around at least a portion of the pin member 204.
[00033] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the footrest assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pin member 204 includes one or more protrusions comprising a first protrusion 204a and a second protrusion 204b, and a pin head 204p. The first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b are capable of being received by the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba in the locked condition. The one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba are disposed on the first projection 201a and the second projection 201b of the footrest holder 201. Further, the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba are disposed on the first attaching portion 202aa and the second attaching portion 202ba of the one or more attaching portions 202a, 202b of the footrest member 202.
[00034] Furthermore, the actuating member 205 is disposed in between the pinhead 204p and the first projection 201a. The elastic member 203 is disposed in between the first attaching portion 202aa and the second attaching portion 202ba. The footrest holder 201 is configured to receive one end of the elastic member 203 and the other end of the elastic member 203 is detachably attached to the footrest member 202. Furthermore, the pin member 204 is prevented from ejecting out of the assembly during decompression by a restraining member 206.
[00035] Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a footrest assembly in the folded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. In folded condition, the footrest member 202 remains closer to the footrest holder 201. The first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b of the pin member 204 remains engaged with the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba (not shown), and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba (not shown). The elastic member 203 is loaded in the folded condition. Further, actuating member 205 is in its decompressed state.
[00036] Whenever the user pushes back the footrest member 202 to remain closer to the footrest holder 201, the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba (not shown) gets aligned with the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba (not shown). This facilitates free and unrestricted movement of the first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b of the pin member 204, therefore, the pin member 204 by virtue of the actuating member 205 to retain its decompressed state moves upwards. By upward movement of the pin member 204, the first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b are received by the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba (not shown) and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba (not shown). However, after a certain extent, the upward movement of the pin member 204 is restricted to a predetermined upward movement by the restraining member 206.
[00037] Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the footrest assembly in the unfolded condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to unfold the footrest member 202 from the footrest holder 201, the user presses the pin head 204p of the pin member 204, which was made available to be pressed during the folded condition. After the user pushes the pin head 204p, the pin member 204 slides downwards by compressing the actuating member 205, which gets loaded. Further, after the compression of the actuating member 205 is followed by disengaging of the first protrusion 204a with the receiving portion 202aa and disengaging of the second protrusion 204b with the receiving portion 202ba. Since, the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba, that are now disengaged with the first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b are disposed on the footrest member 202, the footrest member 202 is now unrestricted and is free to rotate/pivot about the pin axis pq. In addition, the loaded elastic member 203 facilitates the immediate opening of the footrest member 202. However, at least a portion of the second protrusion 204b remains engaged with the first lower receiving portion 201ba of the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba. Thereby restricting the rotational movement of the pin member 204.
[00038] Therefore, only by pressing the pin head 204p the user is able to easily access the footrest member 202 whenever required according to his/her convenience.
[00039] Fig. 7 illustrates a sectional view of a footrest assembly in the folded condition according to another embodiment of the present invention. In folded condition, the footrest member 202 remains closer to the footrest holder 201. The first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b of the pin member 204 remains engaged with the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba (not shown), and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba (not shown). However, a third protrusion 204c remains disengaged. The elastic member 203 is loaded in the folded condition. Further, actuating member 205 is in its decompressed state.
[00040] Whenever the user pushes back the footrest member 202 to remain closer to the footrest holder 201, the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba gets aligned with the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba. This facilitates free and unrestricted movement of the first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b of the pin member 204, therefore, the pin member 204a by virtue of the actuating member 205 to retain its decompressed state moves upwards. By upward movement of the pin member 204, the first protrusion 204a and the second protrusion 204b are received by the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba. However, after a certain extent, the upward movement of the pin member 204 is restricted by the restraining member 206.
[00041] Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view of the footrest assembly in the unfolded condition according to another embodiment of the present invention. In order to unfold the footrest member 202 from the footrest holder 201, the user presses the pin head 204p, which is made available to be pressed by the user, during the folded condition. After the user pushes the pin head 204p, the pin member 204 slides downwards by compressing the actuating member 205, which gets loaded. Further, after the compression of the actuating member 205 is followed by disengaging of the first protrusion 204a with the receiving portion 202aa of the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba and disengaging of the second protrusion 204b with the receiving portion 202ba of the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba. However, the third protrusion 204c gets engaged with the first upper receiving portion 201aa of the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba. Since, the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba are disposed on the footrest member 202, which is a rotatable member, the footrest member 202 is now unrestricted and is free to rotate about the pin axis pq. In addition, the loaded elastic member 203 facilitates the opening of the footrest member 202. However, at least a portion of the second protrusion 204b remains engaged with the first lower receiving portion 201ba of the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba. Thereby restricting the rotational movement of the pin member 204. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the at least a portion of the second protrusion 204b, the third protrusion 204c also remains engaged with the footrest holder 201 and holds the pin member 204 to remain stationary by restricting the rotational movement.
[00042] Therefore, only by pressing the pin head 204p the user is able to easily access the footrest member 202 whenever required according to his/her convenience. Thus, as per an aspect of the present invention, a new method of deploying the footrest is devised through which the user can easily open or deploy the footrest with convenience and minimum effort. In the proposed method, there is no difficulty for the user to deploy the footrest in usable position by trying to enter a portion of his foot or footwear to enter between the footrest and vehicle body to open it or trying to move it open through surface friction contact force. In the proposed method, the user applies actuation force in a vertical direction to deploy the footrest with ease. Similarly, to close the footrest, the user need to just push back the footrest with which it gets stowed into closed position with ease. As per an aspect of the present invention the actuation or deploying member is disposed on the top side of the footrest and substantially towards the axis of rotation of the foot peg.
[00043] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first protrusion 204a, the second protrusion 204b, and the third protrusion 204c includes any one of the sharp edges and rounded edges, like chamfer and fillet. Further, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more first receiving portions 201aa and 201ba and the one or more second receiving portions 202aa and 202ba include any one of the sharp edges and rounded edges, like chamfer and fillet.
[00044] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100), said footrest assembly (116) comprising:
a footrest holder (201);
a footrest member (202) functionally coupled to said footrest holder (201);
a pin member (204) capable of holding said footrest member (202) to said footrest holder (201); and
at least one elastic member (203) enabling retractable movement of said footrest member (202) from a folded condition to an unfolded condition,
wherein,
said pin member (204) comprises one or more protrusions (204a, 204b, 204c) capable of being engaged and disengaged with one or more first receiving portions (201aa, 201ba) of said footrest holder (201) and one or more second receiving portions (202aa, 202ba) of said footrest member (202) in a folded condition and an unfolded condition respectively.
2. A method to operate a footrest assembly (116) in an unfolded condition for a scooter type motorcycle (100), said method comprising the steps of:
actuating a pin member (204) by pushing a pin head (204p);
compressing an actuating member (205) by force exerted by said pin member (204);
disengaging of a first protrusion (204a) and a second protrusion (204b) with one or more second receiving portions (202aa, 202ba) of a footrest member (202); and
rotating of said footrest member (202) about a pin axis (pq).
3. A method to operate a footrest assembly (116) in a folded condition for a scooter type motorcycle (100), said method comprising the steps of:
pressing a footrest member (202) against a footrest holder (201);
engaging of a first protrusion (204a) and a second protrusion (204b) with one or more first receiving portions (201aa, 201ba) and one or more second receiving portions (202aa, 202ba) disposed on a footrest holder (201) and a footrest member (202) respectively;
decompression of an actuating member (205); and
upward movement of a pin member (204).
4. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of second protrusion (204b) of said one or more protrusions (204a, 204b, 204c) is configured to remain engaged with a first lower receiving portion (201ba) of said one or more first receiving portions (201aa, 201ba) of said footrest holder (201).
5. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pin member (204) is a clevis pin.
6. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third protrusion (204c) of said one or more protrusions (204a, 204b, 204c) is configured to be engaged with a first upper receiving portion (201aa) of said one or more first receiving portions (201aa, 201ba) of said footrest holder (201).
7. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footrest assembly (116) includes a restraining member (206) configured to provide a predetermined upward movement to said pin member (204) in said folded condition.
8. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating member (205) is an elastic member configured to undergo compression and decompression during said unfolded condition and said folded condition respectively.
9. The footrest assembly (116) for a scooter type motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member (203) is functionally coupled between said footrest member (202) and the footrest holder (201), the elastic member (203) is configured to enable rotational movement of the footrest member (202) about a pin axis (pq) passing longitudinally through the pin member (204).
10. The method to operate a footrest assembly (116) in an unfolded condition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member (203) is disposed in between a first attaching portion (202aa) and the second attaching portion (202ba).
11. The method to operate a footrest assembly (116) in an unfolded condition as claimed in claim 2, wherein said compressing an actuating member (205) includes an elastic member capable of undergoing compression whenever said pin member (204) is actuated.
12. The method to operate a footrest assembly (116) in a folded condition as claimed in claim 3, wherein said upward movement of the pin member (204) is restricted by a restraining member (206).