DESC:ADJUSTABLE FOOT REST MECHANISM

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates foot rest in a vehicle and more particularly, to an adjustable foot rest mechanism that can be adjusted at required operation angle and can be retracted when not in use.

Background of the invention:

A dead pedal is a flat plate located to the left of all other pedals in the foot-well area of an automobile. The dead pedal acts as a foot rest for the left foot and helps keep a driver from riding a clutch. Typically, in current automotive market, the foot rest/dead pedal is predominantly non-moving and have fixed angle. These prior art foot rests are ergonomically inefficient for all population groups.

In some prior art cases, the foot rests are omitted altogether for aesthetic or regulatory requirements.

There are few available adjustable foot rests used predominantly in luxury market. However, these adjustable foot rests are electronically. Also, they are expensive due to their electronic operation mechanism.

Accordingly, there exists need to provide an adjustable foot rest mechanism, that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks in the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to adjust a foot rest for different angle according to customer preference.

Another object of the present invention is to recline the dead pedal into floor panel to appear flush with the floor panel when not in use.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides an adjustable foot rest mechanism. The mechanism comprises a casing, a dead pedal, a stopper, a return spring, a connecting rod, a dampener, a gear profile, a gas strut, a connection means and a push button. The dead pedal is configured on the casing. The dead pedal has slots configured inner side thereof inside the casing. The stopper is engaged in the slots of the dead pedal inside the casing. The return spring is connected with the stopper at one end. The connecting rod is connected with the stopper. The dampener is arranged on the connecting rod. The gear profile is operably connected with the dampener. The dampener and the gear profile are provided for controlled release of the dead pedal. The gas strut is operably connected with the dead pedal at a first mounting. The gas strut provides necessary spring force for actuation of the dead pedal. The gas strut is positioned in the casing at a second mounting. The connection means is operably connected with the return spring through the casing at one end and operably connected with a push button at other end. The push button is provided on an instrument panel (IP) of the vehicle to release and/or to engage the stopper in the slots of the dead pedal.

The push button is pressed to release the stopper from the slots provided in the dead pedal. The stopper is in released position (disengaged position) and the return spring is in compressed state (disengaged position). The gas strut (initially in compressed state) provides necessary force to push the dead pedal, thereby rotating the dead pedal about a pivot axis thereof to reach desirable angle. The rotation pace of the dead pedal is controlled through the dampener and the gear profile. After achieving the desired angle, the push button is released, thereby releasing the return spring (engaged position) that forces the stopper back into the slots rendering the dead pedal stationary. To completely retract the dead pedal into the floor (when not in use), the push button is pressed for releasing the stopper. An appropriate force is provided by user’s foot to guide the dead pedal at bottommost position. Once the dead pedal reaches the bottommost position, the push button is released forcing the stopper back into the slots the dead pedal.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figures 1 and 2 show an adjustable foot rest mechanism, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows the adjustable foot rest mechanism when not in use, in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 4 and 5 show the adjustable foot rest mechanism when in use at different angels, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 shows interior construction of the adjustable foot rest mechanism, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides an adjustable foot rest mechanism in a vehicle. The foot rest/dead pedal is adjusted at a required operation angle according to customer preference. The foot rest can be retracted the foot rest when not in use.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1 to 8, an adjustable foot rest mechanism (100) (hereinafter referred as, “the mechanism (100)”) in a vehicle (not shown), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The mechanism (100) comprises of a dead pedal (10), a casing (80) having a stopper (20), a return spring (30), a connecting rod (40), a dampener (50), a gear profile (60) and a gas strut (70) disposed therein, a connection means (90) and a push button (not shown). In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) is available as a kit. The mechanism (100) is mechanically actuated and simple in construction.

The dead pedal (10) is configured on the casing (80). The dead pedal (10) has slots (not numbered) configured inner side thereof inside the casing (80).

The stopper (20) is disposed in the slots of the dead pedal (10) inside the casing (80). The stopper (20) is connected with the return spring (30) at one end. The stopper (20) is connected with the connecting rod (40). The dampener (50) is disposed on the connecting rod (40). The dampener (50) is operably connected with the gear profile (60). The dampener (50) and the gear profile (60) are provided for controlled release of the dead pedal (10).

The gas strut (70) (refer figures 6 and 7) is operably connected with the dead pedal (10) at a first mounting (62). The gas strut (70) is positioned in the casing at a second mounting (64). The gas strut (70) provides necessary spring force for actuation of the dead pedal (10).

The connection means (90) (refer figure 2) is operably connected with the return spring (30) through the casing (80) at one end. At another end, the connection means (90) is operably connected with the push button. The push button is provided on an instrument panel (IP) (not shown) of the vehicle. The push button is used to release and/or to engage the stopper (20) in the slots of the dead pedal (10).

Again, referring to figures 1 to 8, in an operation, the mechanism (100) is provided for adjusting an angle of a foot rest according to a customer’s preference. The dead pedal (10) can retract completely into a floor of the vehicle and appear flush when not in use as shown in the figure 3.

The customer presses the push button to release the stopper (20) from the slots provided in the dead pedal (10). As shown in the figure 7, the stopper (20) is in released position (disengaged position) and the return spring (30) is in compressed state (disengaged position). Once the stopper (20) is released, the gas strut (70) (initially in compressed state) provides the necessary force to push the dead pedal (10), thereby rotating the dead pedal (10) about a pivot axis thereof to reach desirable angle (refer figure 4). The rotation pace is controlled through the dampener (50) and the gear profile (60) are provided for controlled release of the dead pedal (10). As shown in the figure 5, the mechanism (100) facilitates five distinct angles provided between 00 and 450 (inclusive).

When the desired angle is achieved, the customer releases the push button, thereby releasing the return spring (40) (engaged position). The return spring (30) forces the stopper (20) back into the slots rendering the dead pedal (10) stationary. To completely retract the dead pedal (10) into the floor (when not in use), the customer presses the push button releasing the stopper (20) and provides appropriate force with their foot. Once the dead pedal (10) reaches the bottommost position, the push button is released forcing the stopper (20) back into the slots. As shown in the figure 3, the mechanism (100) is retracted fully and appears flush with the floor.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The mechanism (100) facilitates adjustment of the dead pedal (10) at five distinct angles according to customer preference.
2. The mechanism (100) is mechanically actuated.
3. The mechanism (100) is simple in construction.
4. The mechanism (100) is economical to construct.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. An adjustable foot rest mechanism (100) comprising:
a casing (80);
a dead pedal (10) configured on the casing (80), the dead pedal (10) having slots configured inner side thereof inside the casing (80);
a stopper (20) engaged in the slots of the dead pedal (10) inside the casing (80);
a return spring (30) connected with the stopper (20) at one end;
a connecting rod (40) connected with the stopper (20);
a dampener (50) arranged on the connecting rod (40);
a gear profile (60) operably connected with the dampener (50), wherein the dampener (50) and the gear profile (60) are provided for controlled release of the dead pedal (10);
a gas strut (70) operably connected with the dead pedal (10) at a first mounting (62) thereby providing necessary spring force for actuation of the dead pedal (10), wherein the gas strut (70) is positioned in the casing (80) at a second mounting (64); and
a connection means (90) operably connected with the return spring (30) through the casing (80) at one end and operably connected with a push button at other end, wherein the push button is provided on an instrument panel (IP) of the vehicle to release and/or to engage the stopper (20) in the slots of the dead pedal (10).
wherein, the push button is pressed to release the stopper (20) from the slots provided in the dead pedal (10) and as the stopper (20) is in released position (disengaged position) and the return spring (30) is in compressed state (disengaged position), the gas strut (70) (initially in compressed state) provides necessary force to push the dead pedal (10), thereby rotating the dead pedal (10) about a pivot axis thereof to reach desirable angle.

2. The adjustable foot rest mechanism (100) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the rotation pace of the dead pedal (10) is controlled through the dampener (50) and the gear profile (60).

3. The adjustable foot rest mechanism (100) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein after achieving the desired angle, the push button is released, thereby releasing the return spring (40) (engaged position) that forces the stopper (20) back into the slots rendering the dead pedal (10) stationary.

4. The adjustable foot rest mechanism (100) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein for completely retracting the dead pedal (10) into the floor (when not in use), the push button is pressed for releasing the stopper (20), an appropriate force is provided by user’s foot to guide the dead pedal (10) at bottommost position and then, the push button is released forcing the stopper (20) back into the slots of the dead pedal (10).

Dated this 11th day of December 2018

Madhavi Vajirakar
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-2337)