US 4,726,438 A · Energy absorbing foot rest arrangement

Abstract

A foot-supporting body in a motor vehicle is provided which is capable of supporting both feet of a passenger while reducing the intrusion depth, reducing the change in intrusion speed and performing deformation work. The foot-supporting body is made as a pure hard-foam moulded body which--arranged on the passenger/driver side of the end wall--extends beyond the left-hand foot-placement area at least as far as the area covered by the brake pedal. The inherent rigidity of the foot-supporting body, as viewed in the loading direction, which can be permanently deformed, is below that of the allocated area of the end wall. Polystyrene--or polyurethane--foamed plastic, with a lower volumetric-weight limit of about 20 g/dm.sup.3 is preferably used as the moulded body material in certain exemplary embodiments.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Foot-supporting body arrangement of energy-absorbing design for a motor vehicle, said foot-supporting body being made of energy-absorbing foamed plastic and being arranged after the end wall, on the passenger/driver compartment side, said foot-supporting body being supported in positionally secured manner against the end wall,

wherein the foot-supporting body is designed as a moulded body which extends beyond the placement area of the left foot and extends at least as far as the area covered by the brake pedal on the driver's side, wherein the foot supporting body is covered with a carpet floor covering on the passenger compartment side and is mounted at a distance in front of at least one of the driver's feet during normal traveling operation, and wherein the only significant deformation allowed by said body is plastic, said body absorbing a significant amount of energy during said deformation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Energy absorbing foot rest arrangement

Life of this patent

Energy absorbing foot rest arrangement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13