Claims:
1. A footrest assembly (100) for a vehicle comprising:
a housing (104)
a foot pedal (102) having a width less than a width of foot;
a side extension (112) having a width equal to or less than the width of the foot pedal (102);
a transmission mechanism (101) for extending the side extension (112) away from the housing to form a footrest (100) by adding the width of the side extension to the foot pedal (102) for providing an ergonomic support to the foot and retrieving the side extension.

2. The footrest assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism (101) is a mechanical or hydraulic or combination thereof transmission mechanism that converts vertical movement of the foot pedal (102) to horizontal movement of the side extension (112).

3. The footrest assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mechanical transmission mechanism (101) includes a pivot mechanism (108, 110, & 114), wedge mechanism (206) or a gear mechanism.

4. The footrest assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot assembly (108, 110, & 114) comprises a rotatable plate (106) pivotally connected to the housing, said rotatable plate (106) having one end connected to the foot pedal (102) and other end connected to the side extension (112) for converting vertical movement of the foot pedal (102) to the horizonal movement of the side extension (112) and a biasing means (116) for retrieving the side extension (112) on removal of foot from the footrest assembly (100).

5. The footrest assembly (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wedge mechanism (201) includes a complementary wedge arrangement between the foot pedal (202) and the side extension (206) vertical movement in the foot pedal (202) is converted to horizontal movement of the side extension (206) through a wedge action and a biasing means (210) for retrieving the side extension (206) on removal of foot from the footrest assembly(200).

6. The footrest assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the biasing means (210) is a tension spring when connected to the side extension (206) and a compression spring when connected to the foot pedal (202).

7. The footrest assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism (201) is an automatic transmission mechanism having a sensor or a button (118) for activating a motor operated mechanism (120) for extending or retrieving the side extension (112).

8. The footrest assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the housing allows the assembly to be adapted fixedly or removable on the vehicle.
, Description:FORM 2
The Patents Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

A FOOTREST ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED,
A COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE INDIAN COMPANIES ACT, 1913, HAVING ADDRESS AT MAHINDRA RESEARCH VALLEY (MRV), MAHINDRA WORLD CITY, PLOT NO: 41/1, ANJUR P.O., CHENGALPATTU – 603004, KANCHEEPURAM DIST., TAMIL NADU, INDIA

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE NATURE OF THIS INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

 
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of a footrest of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND
Over a long journey, drivers tend to drive the vehicle for long hours. In general, drivers drive vehicles for 14 -15hrs a day as they have to reach their destination in quickest time. While driving for such long hours, they use their foot regularly on Accelerometer/Clutch/Brake.
In long runs, driver can remove their foot from clutch as clutch is only used while changing gears. There are footpads available where driver keeping their left foot for dead pedal provides comfort to the driver by providing an ergonomic position for resting the left foot. For better ergonomics, the footrest must be of wider length. Also, to meet the safety requirements, the footrest should have sufficient clearance with the Clutch pedal (Manual transmission) or Accelerator pedal (Automatic transmission).
Various types of footrest are patented or published. US3784247A discloses a footrest for a driver. A driver’s footrest for attachment to the interior of a vehicle consists of a base member having a vertical portion adapted to be affixed to a vehicle interior wall and an integral horizontal extending portion, an elongated step member is pivotally fixed to the base member horizontal portion and pivotal between a horizontal position adaptable to receive the placement of the driver’s foot, for resting the driver, and pivotal in a vertical position. The footrest is removed from interference with the driver and can be attached to vehicle interior whenever needed.
However, there is still need of a footrest for a vehicle.

OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCLOSURE
Some of the objectives of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An objective of present disclosure is to provide a footrest assembly for a driver.
Another objective of present disclosure is to provide a footrest assembly for a vehicle that can be used for any type of vehicle including two-wheeler, four-wheeler and heavy vehicles.
Other objectives and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention envisages a footrest assembly for a vehicle to provide ergonomic support to the foot of user.
The present invention provides a footrest assembly comprising a housing, a foot pedal, a side extension and a transmission mechanism. The foot pedal has a width less than a width of foot. The side extension has a width equal to or less than the width of the foot pedal. The transmission mechanism is for extending the side extension away from the housing to form a footrest by adding the width of the side extension to the foot pedal for providing an ergonomic support to the foot and retrieving the side extension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The footpad for vehicle driver of the present invention will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a footrest for a vehicle driver as per first embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a footrest for a vehicle driver as per first embodiment of the invention in extended position, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a footpad assembly where clutch pedal is in pressed position.
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of a footpad assembly where driver foot is placed on footrest as per the present invention
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of footrest assembly as per second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view of footrest assembly as per second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a flow diagram of working principle of footrest assembly.

 
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Footrest assembly
102 – Footpad
104 - Housing
105 – Vehicle body
106 – Rotatable Plate
108 – First Movable Pivot
110 – Fixed Pivot
112 – Side Extension
114 – Second Movable Pivot
116 – Biasing Member
200 – Footrest assembly
202 – Footpad
205 – Vehicle Body
206 – Side Extension
204 –Housing
210 – Biasing Member

The foregoing and other features of embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In this disclosure, a number of embodiments are provided to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present invention to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
As a general practice followed in various embodiments of this disclosure, no additional or specific details has been provided for processes, apparatus set-ups, or techniques that are well known and available in the state of the art.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining an embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and ““they”” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly mounted, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
In general, the present invention provides a footrest assembly for a vehicle comprising a foot pedal having a width less than a width of foot, a side extension having a width equal to or less than the width of the foot pedal and a transmission mechanism for extending the side extension away from the housing to form a footrest by adding the width of the side extension to the foot pedal for providing an ergonomic support to the foot and retrieving the side extension.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the transmission mechanism can be a mechanical, hydraulic or combination thereof transmission mechanism that coverts vertical movement of the foot pedal to horizontal movement of the side extension. In an embodiment, the mechanical transmission mechanism includes a pivot mechanism, wedge mechanism or a gear mechanism.
In another embodiment, the transmission mechanism can be an automatic transmission mechanism having a sensor or button for activating a motor operated mechanism for extending or retrieving the side extension.
In yet another embodiment, the transmission mechanism further have sensor for actuating the motor and it can be placed over the foot pedal, dashboard, Steering, Vehicle trim or any suitable position for driver.
According to the present invention, the housing of the footrest assembly has known means that allows the assembly to be adapted fixedly or removable on the vehicle.
Referring Fig 1 and 2 show a Footrest assembly (100) is removably or fixedly attached to a vehicle body (105) with the help of a housing (104). The footrest assembly (100) as shown in Fig. 1 and 2 comprises a foot pedal (102) placed in a housing (104), the foot pedal (102) is having a width less than a width of foot. The footrest assembly (100) also discloses a side extension (112) fixed in the housing (104) and the side extension (112) is having a width equal to or less than the width of the foot pedal (102). The footrest assembly (100) as shown in Figure 1 and 2 comprises a pivotal transmission mechanism (101) as a mechanical transmission for extending the side extension (112) away from the housing to form a footrest (100) by adding the width of the side extension to the foot pedal (102) for providing an ergonomic support to the foot and retrieving the side extension (112). The term “adding the width of the side extension to the width of the foot pedal” helps to provide the total width of the footrest assembly equal to or more than the foot of user thereby providing a complete ergonomic support to the foot of the user.
As shown in Fig 1 and 2, the pivotal mechanism comprises a rotatable plate (106) which is pivotally connected to the housing at fixed pivot (110). The rotatable plate (106) is having one end connected to the foot pedal (102) pivotally at a first movable pivot (108) and other end connected to the side extension (112) pivotally at a second movable pivot (114) for converting vertical movement of the foot pedal (102) to the horizonal movement of the side extension (112) when user placed a foot over the foot pedal (102) of the footrest assembly (100) and a biasing means (116) connected to the side extension (112) for retrieving the side extension (112). Alternatively, the biasing member can be connected to the foot pedal (102). The footrest assembly (100) extends away from the second part of the foot pedal (102) upon exertion of load on of the foot pedal (102) in an actuated configuration as shown in Fig2 to provide the total width of the footrest assembly equal to or more than the foot of user thereby providing a complete ergonomic support to the foot of the user.
The side extension (112) retracts (102) upon removal of load on the foot pedal (102). The retracted configuration is shown in Fig1.
Accordingly, as shown in Figure 1 &2, the first part of the Foot Pedal (102) is configured to be pressed downwards to displace the rotatable plate (106) and the side extension (112). The biasing member (116) is a tension spring (116) as it the biasing member is connected to the side extension (112).
As shown in Fig. 1 & 2, the tension spring (116) has a first end fixed to the hosing (104) and a second end connected to the side extension (112). The biasing member (116) helps the Foot Pedal to regain its original position when load from the Foot Pedal is removed by the driver which is disclosed in Fig 2.
Referring Fig. 3 shows the footrest assembly (100) in inoperative position, as the driver foot is placed on the clutch pedal and it is in operative position.
Referring Fig. 4 shows the footrest assembly (100) in operative position, where the driver apply load on the Foot Pedal (102) and the side extension (112) extends to the outside of footrest assembly to provide extra foot space to the vehicle driver.
Referring Fig 5 and 6 show a wedge mechanism as another type of the mechanical transmission mechanism adapted in the footrest assembly (100) according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 5 and 6, the footrest assembly comprises a foot pedal (202) and a side extension (208) adapted in wedge mechanism in the housing (208) and a biasing means (210) for retrieving the side extension (206) in the housing (208). The biasing means (210) is a tension spring when connected to the side extension (206) and a compression spring when connected to the foot pedal (202). The wedge mechanism for footrest assembly (200) includes a complementary wedge arrangement (210A, 201B) between the foot pedal (202) and the side extension (206) for converting vertical movement of the foot pedal (202) to horizontal movement of the side extension (206) through a wedge action.
In another embodiment as explained in Fig 7, the transmission mechanism (300) is an automatic transmission mechanism having a sensor or a button (304) adapted in the foot pedal for activating a motor operated mechanism (304) for extending or retrieving the side extension according to an embodiment of the invention. The sensor (304) activates the motor (not shown) as foot of the user approaches the foot pedal for extend the side extension according to present invention. The sensor can be a proximity sensor, a touch sensor, or a pressure sensor for activating the motor of the transmission mechanism.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, which:
• reduces fatigue of passenger/ Driver during long hours journey.
• increases passenger comfort; and
• increases driving efficiency of driver.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of materials, devices, articles, or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.