Foot Rests Patents (Class 296/75)
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Patent number: 6951360Abstract: A foot rest mountable on a motor vehicle floor has a foundation with a mounting surface, a footboard, and a fastening apparatus acting between the foundation and the footboard that holds the footboard on the mounting surface. The fastening apparatus has a lower, first fastening element constructed in the form of a rigid back-reaching element and an upper, second fastening element. For short installation times of the footboard on the foundation, the fastening apparatus is additionally provided with a third fastening element constructed as a rigid back-reaching element, and the upper fastening element is constructed as a slide blocking element that blocks a relative displacement between the footboard and the mounting surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bernd Nabert, Erwin Lutz, Frank Diehm
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Patent number: 6921129Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a station wagon, having a rear loading space which has a floor trough and having an additional seat which is arranged foldably in the rear loading space and has a pivotably held seat and backrest part, the rear sides of which, in the folded-over not-in-use position of the additional seat, form a flat loading floor which covers the floor trough. In order to realize a footrest for the vehicle occupant sitting on the additional seat counter to the direction of travel, a covering module is inserted into the floor trough, said covering module having a self-supporting, flat plate which is used for the footrest and a strip-shaped, narrow limb which is angled on one longitudinal side of the plate. The plate is supported at the edges at a distance from the bottom of the floor trough, and the limb extends vertically until it reaches or is close to the front edge of the seat part of the additional seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Egon Katz, Juergen Wonney
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Patent number: 6910724Abstract: A footrest plate 1 comprises a pair of first and second clips to be insertably received into a pair of corresponding first and second mounting holes 18 and 23 formed in a workpiece with leaving a certain distance therebetween. Each of the first and second clips has a rectangular cross-sectional insertion portion insertable into corresponding one of first and second mounting holes each formed in a rectangular shape. The rectangular cross-sectional insertion portion of the first clip 10 includes a pair of longitudinal sides 31 each of which extends in the longitudinal direction of the footrest plate and has a length shorter than that of each longitudinal side 25 of the first mounting hole 23 by a first clearance 26, and a pair of lateral sides 32 each of which extends in the lateral direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the footrest plate and has a length substantially equal to or slightly shorter than that of each lateral side 29 of the first mounting hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Newfrey LLCInventor: Hiroyuki Kato
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Patent number: 6869124Abstract: A footrest assembly comprises a footrest (45) made of plastic material, and a clip (9) provided on the floor-facing side of the footrest to receive therein a threaded stud (51) fixed on a floor (50). The clip (9) includes a first clip component (10) having an engagement pawl (26) adapted to engage with the stud, and a second clip component (11) capable of releasing the engagement between the engagement pawl of the first clip component (10) and the stud. The first clip component (10) is formed as a tubular body having the engagement pawl on the inside thereof and is immovably fixed to the footrest. The second clip component (11) is received in a tubular portion of the first clip component in a rotatable manner about the axis of the tubular portion to allow selective angular rotation of the second clip component (11) between an engagement position (FIG.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Newfrey LLCInventor: Hideki Kanie
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Patent number: 6866328Abstract: A device for thrusting a car door open by a driver which device mounts either directly to a vehicle door panel, or if the vehicle door has an inwardly projecting storage pocket, the device mounts on the pocket. The device includes a main body which receives a pad adapted to be impacted by a driver's foot. The main body is attached to the vehicle door by at least two spaced upper hooks on the rear face which hooks engage a respective aperture in the door panel or pocket, and by at least two rotatable tab pegs. The main body includes a forward facing perimeter edge to define a frame for the impact pad which is removably attached therein. The impact pad is disposed within the frame perimeter after the main body is attached to the pocket or the door panel by adhesive or by hook and loop closure members.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Inventor: Dionna Mustybrook
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Patent number: 6834904Abstract: An adjustable footrest (1) is connected to the floor of a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle, and includes a framework structure (2) having at least one panel (23) which is inclined toward the front of the vehicle, for accommodating the foot of a driver. A drive mechanism (3) for causing linear displacement along the axis of the vehicle is fixed to the rear of the panel (23), and to the floor, for moving the framework structure (2).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignees: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA, Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Franck Sauvonnet, Brian N. Orr, Waldemar W. Gmurowski
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Publication number: 20040251706Abstract: The present invention relates to the car mattress. The car mattress in the present invention has the effects to move and fix freely the drawer unit and footing devised on the upper side of the body and to remove the bad smells in the drawer unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventor: Hyuk-Jong Kim
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Patent number: 6794013Abstract: The invention is a molded flexible heavy-duty floor mat with attached metal wear plates designed to fit in the floor compartment area of a car, van, pick-up truck, sport utility or work vehicle. The floor mat surface is texturized with raised protrusions and ridges to provide non-slip shoe traction and shoe scraping surfaces. The floor mat has recessed areas, indentations, and channels to collect scraped or loosened debris and moisture. A peripheral double lip or wall contains the debris and moisture on the floor mat. The attached wear plates are texturized for additional scraping and traction purposes and are attached in areas of the floor mat which are most susceptible to wear, such as near the vehicle pedals and in the stepping area of the floor mat. The floor mat has back gripping area to secure and maintain the mat against the vehicle floor. The mat may be readily cleaned by removing the entire mat out from the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Rally Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Marc Iacovelli, Saied Hussaini
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Publication number: 20040178653Abstract: A footrest assembly comprises a footrest 45 made of plastic material, and a clip 9 provided on the floor-facing side of the footrest to receive therein a threaded stud 51 fixed on a floor 50. The clip 9 includes a first clip component 10 having an engagement pawl 26 adapted to engage with the stud, and a second clip component 11 capable of releasing the engagement between the engagement pawl of the first clip component 10 and the stud. The first clip component 10 is formed as a tubular body having the engagement pawl on the inside thereof and is immovably fixed to the footrest. The second clip component 11 is received in a tubular portion of the first clip component in a rotatable manner about the axis of the tubular portion to allow selective angular rotation of the second clip component 11 between an engagement position (FIG. 10) where the engagement pawl of the first clip component is allowed to engage with the stud and a release position where the engagement pawl 26 is bent not to engage with the stud 51.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventor: Hideki Kanie
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Patent number: 6761389Abstract: An automobile heel stopper shock-absorbing structure is formed from a receiving plate that on the outside has a heel receiving surface and on the inside faces a dash panel with a space therebetween, a front support plate connected integrally to a front end part of the receiving plate and having its extremity joined to the dash panel, and a rear support plate connected integrally to a rear end part of the receiving plate and having its extremity joined to at least one of the dash panel and a floor panel. The rear support plate is made weaker than the receiving plate and the front support plate so that the rear support plate will buckle when a pushing-in load acting on the receiving plate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kosuke Akasaka, Shinji Kumagai, Keiichi Honda, Yuji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 6761390Abstract: A golf cart footrest including horizontal footrest bars mounted between two steel endplates, which are attached to steel golf cart mounting brackets. The mounting brackets can be mounted through existing holes in the canopy frame of a golf cart or appropriate holes can be drilled in the golf cart's side panels to position the footrest just above the dashboard. There are a series of perforated holes in the endplates that can be aligned with attaching holes in the mounting brackets in order to adjust the height of the footrest or to better align it with existing mounting holes in the golf cart. To install the golf cart footrest simply requires an individual to bolt the mounting brackets with attached endplates to existing holes in a golf cart's frontal canopy frame. If necessary holes do not exist, then appropriate holes can be drilled in the golf cart's frame or side panels.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2003Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Inventors: Matt H. Osborne, Betty L. Osborne
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Publication number: 20040100113Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a station wagon, having a rear loading space which has a floor trough and having an additional seat which is arranged foldably in the rear loading space and has a pivotably held seat and backrest part, the rear sides of which, in the folded-over not-in-use position of the additional seat, form a flat loading floor which covers the floor trough. In order to realize a footrest for the vehicle occupant sitting on the additional seat counter to the direction of travel, a covering module is inserted into the floor trough, said covering module having a self-supporting, flat plate which is used for the footrest and a strip-shaped, narrow limb which is angled on one longitudinal side of the plate. The plate is supported at the edges at a distance from the bottom of the floor trough, and the limb extends vertically until it reaches or is close to the front edge of the seat part of the additional seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Egon Katz, Juergen Wonney
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Publication number: 20030222478Abstract: An automobile heel stopper shock-absorbing structure is formed from a receiving plate that on the outside has a heel receiving surface and on the inside faces a dash panel with a space therebetween, a front support plate connected integrally to a front end part of the receiving plate and having its extremity joined to the dash panel, and a rear support plate connected integrally to a rear end part of the receiving plate and having its extremity joined to at least one of the dash panel and a floor panel. The rear support plate is made weaker than the receiving plate and the front support plate so that the rear support plate will buckle when a pushing-in load acting on the receiving plate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kosuke Akasaka, Shinji Kumagai, Keiichi Honda, Yuji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 6634694Abstract: In a vehicular footrest construction in which a footrest depression face plate on which the passenger's foot is placed is disposed on a pedal bracket fixed to a vehicle body, the pedal bracket 8 is formed by bending one steel sheet so that a footrest depression face plate attaching portion 8a of the pedal bracket 8 to which the footrest depression face plate 9 is installed is supported by three wall faces 8b, 8c and 8d. Thereby, there is provided a vehicular footrest construction capable of ensuring sufficient stiffness with a simple construction and increasing the assembling work efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Yasuhiro Matsushita
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Patent number: 6604594Abstract: An engine cradle adapted for receiving an engine includes a left side wall defining a C-shaped opening therein. The engine cradle also includes a right side wall, which is essentially a solid wall that provides a reflective surface for reflecting heat to the engine when contained within the engine cradle. The engine cradle also includes a front wall connected between forward portions of the left and right side walls. The engine cradle also includes a bottom panel and a rear panel connected between bottom portions of the front, left side, and right side walls.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Jérôme Wubbolts, Anne-Marie Dion
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Patent number: 6592135Abstract: A running board assembly for pick-up trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles which has a detachable runner which used as a loading ramp when and wherever a loading ramp is needed to load the vehicle. The assembly not only provides the convenience of a running board which divides the long stretch when stepping into the vehicle; but additionally, it provides a convenient and unobtrusive means of carrying loading ramps in vehicles which typically lack the storage capacity, and particularly the length in their storage bed, to carry a loading ramp. The running board assembly comprises: a front and rear mounting bracket each secured to a lower central side portion of the vehicle; an elongate runner releasably engaging, and carried by the front and rear mounting brackets; and, releasable lock means to releasably lock the elongate runner board on the brackets.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Inventor: Theron V. Hendrix
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Publication number: 20030127882Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable footrest (1) connected to the floor of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising a framework structure (2) of which at least one face (23), intended to accommodate the foot of a driver, is inclined toward the front of the vehicle and to the rear of which is fixed a mechanism for moving this face, the mechanism itself being fixed to the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Franck Sauvonnet, Brian N. Orr, Waldemar W. Gmurowski
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Patent number: 6527327Abstract: A foot-depositing for a passenger sitting in a rear seat or in a front-passenger seat of a vehicle on which to place his feet, includes a frame which is arranged on the floor in front of the particular seat and supports a board, via an adjusting device, the adjusting device enabling the setting of a first board position, in which the board forms a ramp rising with increasing distance from the associated seat and is used for the passenger to place his feet. The adjusting device also enables the setting of a second board position, in which the board forms a ramp sloping away with increasing distance from the seat and is used for the passenger to place his calves.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Hermann Gaus, Jürgen Weissinger, Hermann Weller
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Patent number: 6513821Abstract: A high strength polymeric injection molded running board for an automotive vehicle is provided including a longitudinal base portion with an upper first surface and a lower second surface opposite the first surface, the upper surface supporting a foot of a vehicle occupant entering or exiting the vehicle. The running board also includes grip ridges integrally molded with the base portion on the first surface to increase the frictional interface between the first surface and the foot of the vehicle occupant entering or exiting the vehicle. The grip ridges have a crown region and an incline portion connecting the crown region with the first surface. The running board also includes reinforcing ribs for strengthening the base portion, the ribs extend from the base portion second surface and are joined to the second surface generally opposite the incline portion of the grip ridges.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.Inventor: Philip J. Heil
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Patent number: 6502905Abstract: A plastic floor mat and foot rest unit is disclosed in which a front edge of the support surface of the foot rest is inserted through a slotted opening in the floor mat to the underside of the floor mat, and a latching projection is also inserted through the opening to latch the front edge of the support surface in the opening, yet permit its ready removal if desired. The rear edge of the support surface is also supported by a support plate to permit the incline angle of the foot rest support surface to be adjusted and to support the rear edge by the pile of the carpet upon which the floor mat and foot rest unit is to be used.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Berol CorporationInventors: Albert B. Cheris, John Ford, Michael Goluszka
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Patent number: 6478359Abstract: A footrest assembly (15) comprises a footrest (17) and a clip (18). The clip (18) has a shank (27) to be inserted into and fixed to a hollow tubular support (22, 23) extending from a rear surface (21) of a step of the footrest (17), and a resilient engagement pawl (29), which serves as a vehicle body panel fixing portion, formed in a shank portion from protruded from the end of the support. A protrusion (33) for defining the height of the footrest is provided at the intermediate region of the side surface of the shank (27) of the clip (18), and is arranged to engage with an end face of a notch (26) formed at the end of the support so as to prevent the shank from being further inserted. The protrusion (33) is formed at the side surface of the shank of predetermined strength which allows the protrusion to be shorn by the end of the support when a vehicle collision of a predetermined impact force causes the shank to be pressed to the support of the footrest.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Emhart LLCInventors: Masahi Dendo, Kouichi Daigaku
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Publication number: 20020096904Abstract: In a vehicular footrest construction in which a footrest depression face plate on which the passenger's foot is placed is disposed on a pedal bracket fixed to a vehicle body, the pedal bracket 8 is formed by bending one steel sheet so that a footrest depression face plate attaching portion 8a of the pedal bracket 8 to which the footrest depression face plate 9 is installed is supported by three wall faces 8b, 8c and 8d. Thereby, there is provided a vehicular footrest construction capable of ensuring sufficient stiffness with a simple construction and increasing the assembling work efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventor: Yasuhiro Matsushita
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Publication number: 20020093215Abstract: A foot-depositing for a passenger sitting in a rear seat or in a front-passenger seat of a vehicle on which to place his feet, includes a frame which is arranged on the floor in front of the particular seat and supports a board, via an adjusting device, the adjusting device enabling the setting of a first board position, in which the board forms a ramp rising with increasing distance from the associated seat and is used for the passenger to place his feet. The adjusting device also enables the setting of a second board position, in which the board forms a ramp sloping away with increasing distance from the seat and is used for the passenger to place his calves.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventors: Hermann Gaus, Jurgen Weissinger, Hermann Weller
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Publication number: 20020063436Abstract: A footrest assembly 15 comprises a footrest 17 and a clip 18. The clip 18 has a shank 27 to be inserted into and fixed to a hollow tubular support 22, 23 extending from a rear surface 21 of a step of the footrest 17, and a resilient engagement pawl 29, which serves as a vehicle body panel fixing portion, formed in a shank portion from protruded from the end of the support. A protrusion 33 for defining the height of the footrest is provided at the intermediate region of the side surface of the shank 27 of the clip 18, and is arranged to engage with an end face of a notch 26 formed at the end of the support so as to prevent the shank from being further inserted. The protrusion 33 is formed at the side surface of the shank of predetermined strength which allows the protrusion to be shorn by the end of the support when a vehicle collision of a predetermined impact force causes the shank to be pressed to the support of the footrest.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Inventors: Masahi Dendo, Kouichi Daigaku
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Patent number: 6390488Abstract: A motorcycle foot peg is constructed to absorb shocks and impacts that would otherwise be transmitted to a rider's foot during hard landings of a motorcycle. The impact and shock absorbing motorcycle foot peg has particular applicability to off-road motorcycles. The foot peg has a rigid mounting platform including a mounting plate from which a rigid foot support projects outwardly in cantilevered fashion. The foot support has a flat upper bearing surface and supports a foot pad formed of a resiliently compressible elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness of between about 30 and 60. A foot contact plate is located atop the elastomeric slab. The foot contact plate, the elastomeric slab, and foot support are connected together by bolts passing therethrough. The foot contact plate thereby resides in a floating relationship relative to the foot support and can move both toward the foot support and laterally relative to the foot support to cushion the rider's foot against shocks and impacts.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Inventor: Brent Wallingsford
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Patent number: 6390218Abstract: A brake arm is formed of a steel pipe and bent upward in its front part to assume a generally L-shaped configuration. A pedal part is welded to the front part of the brake arm. The brake arm is configured so that the upwardly bent portion is expansion formed so as to gradually become thicker toward the upper end and the distal end portion to which the pedal part is welded has a shape similar to but marginally smaller in size than the bottom face of the pedal part.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Hiroto Yao
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Patent number: 6318785Abstract: A motor vehicle foot rest includes a movable foot rest panel, a driving mechanism and an actuator. In another aspect of the present invention, a flexible and linearly movable cable pushes or pulls a linearly movable slide capable of raising or lowering a foot rest panel. A further aspect of the present invention provides a linearly movable slide which is coupled to an elongated and relatively stationary track.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: ASC IncorporatedInventor: James E. Tousignant
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Patent number: 6318786Abstract: An adjustable dead pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle is provided. The adjustable dead pedal apparatus includes a bracket that is removeably attached to a vehicle side wall. A pedal structure is selectively secured to one of a plurality of position on the bracket. The pedal structure can be moved in the fore/aft direction by removing the bracket from the side wall and removing the pedal structure from the bracket from a first position and reattaching the pedal structure at a second position. The bracket can then be reattached to the vehicle side wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Paul J Sauve, Paul S Larsen, James Finck
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Patent number: 6312039Abstract: An accelerator block for supporting a driver's foot and leg in application to an accelerator pedal in an ergonomically advantageous position has a body with a height, fastened to a floor before the accelerator pedal. The drivers foot rests by the heel on the body, allowing a more obtuse angle between the foot and the leg than would otherwise attain. In some cases a radiused shoulder is provided for the heel, to prevent the heel from slipping back away from the accelerator pedal.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: William R. Bartz
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Patent number: 6283529Abstract: A footrest is provided to restrain a passenger's ankle from bending backward at a vehicle front collision. When a toe board 2b is deformed toward a passenger's room at the vehicle front collision, then a frame member 7 forming an energy absorbing unit 5 for the footrest 3 begins to be deformed on compression. In the member's deformation, a front-inclined leg part 9F of the member 7 on the side of the passenger's toe yields ahead of others firstly. Thus, the compressive deformation is successively transmitted from the frame member's part on the side of the passenger's toe to the same part on the side of the passenger's heel frame member 7, so that collision energy can be absorbed to moderate an impact exerted on the passenger's foot F. Additionally, since the foot F is moved obliquely upward of the toe board 2b by the prior deformation of the part 9F, it is possible to restrain the passenger's ankle from bending backward.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuichi Kitagawa
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Publication number: 20010017452Abstract: An improved vehicle running board construction and method of making same comprising a hollow metal support pipe with an elongated mid-section step portion adapted in vehicle-mounted orientation to extend generally parallel to and adjacent a sill of a vehicle door that provides access to a passenger or freight compartment of the vehicle. An elongate mounting opening is formed in an upwardly facing exterior surface area of the pipe mid-section. A support plate has a plurality of transverse trusses arranged in spaced apart relation in a longitudinally extending row and straddling the opening side edges and resting thereon for support. A plurality of spacer webs are individually interposed between and joined to longitudinally adjacent pairs of the trusses and support at each of their longitudinally opposite ends, a resilient spring finger catch oriented to underlie an associated one of the pipe opening side edges.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Inventor: Edward Helmut Bernard
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Publication number: 20010003399Abstract: A footrest is provided to restrain a passenger's ankle from bending backward at a vehicle front collision. When a toe board 2b is deformed toward a passenger's room at the vehicle front collision, then a frame member 7 forming an energy absorbing unit 5 for the footrest 3 begins to be deformed on compression. In the member's deformation, a front-inclined leg part 9F of the member 7 on the side of the passenger's toe yields ahead of others firstly. Thus, the compressive deformation is successively transmitted from the frame member's part on the side of the passenger's toe to the same part on the side of the passenger's heel frame member 7, so that collision energy can be absorbed to moderate an impact exerted on the passenger's foot F. Additionally, since the foot F is moved obliquely upward of the toe board 2b by the prior deformation of the part 9F, it is possible to restrain the passenger's ankle from bending backward.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2000Publication date: June 14, 2001Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuichi Kitagawa
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Patent number: 6241301Abstract: A motor vehicle including an occupant compartment and a foot rest. The occupant compartment is partially defined by a floor. The foot rest is interconnected with the floor for movement between a first position and a second position. An upper surface of the foot rest is flush with the floor when the foot rest is in the second position. The upper surface extends above the floor when the foot rest is in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Stephan J. Speth, Thomas B. Tran
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Patent number: 6224134Abstract: Injection molded components for off-road recreational and utility vehicles such as ATV's and snowmobiles. In one embodiment, the invention provides a rack having a fiber-filled plastic resin body. The body has an overall thickness substantially less than its width and length, and includes a generally flat, horizontal top having a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is defined by a flange extending downwardly the flange having a thickness that is substantially less than its height to define a downwardly extending reinforcing rib, which also provides a point of attachment for straps such as bungee cords. Preferably the rack includes integrally molded transverse reinforcing ribs extending across the slots, the reinforcing ribs having a top surface which is recessed downwardly from the top surface of the rack. In another embodiment, the invention provides an injection molded foot rest for an off-road recreational or utility vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2000Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Mitchell D. Johnson, Michael A. Klein, Matthew David Parks, Mark Thomas Karl, Patrick Johnson, Tim Spahr, Jeff Sajna, Craig Andrews, Kenneth Terry Higgins, Robert A. Lowery, Keith D. Ruby, Alton Mitchell, Rhonda L. Davis
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Patent number: 6224133Abstract: A secondary floor assembly for a motor vehicle having a floorpan extending generally horizontally and a toeboard extending generally upwardly at an angle from the floorpan includes a heel portion extending laterally and longitudinally along the floorpan and a toe portion connected to the heel portion and extending laterally and upwardly along the toeboard for pushing a heel of a foot of an occupant of the motor vehicle rearwardly during a frontal impact of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Abramoski, Karl M. Siebertz, James R. Feustel, Brian R. Spahn
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Patent number: 6220643Abstract: A mounting structure for an automobile footrest whereby a footrest can be mounted in a condition with no rattle by a perfectly one-touch operation comprising plate-shaped mounting members mounted with prescribed separation on an automobile body panel and provided with respective engagement parts, and a footrest mounted on these plate-shaped mounting members. The footrest is provided on its rear face with mounting parts capable of engagement in sliding relationship with respective plate-shaped mounting members. These mounting parts are respectively provided with engaging claw structures that resiliently engage engagement parts of the plate-shaped mounting members and are arranged with a separation corresponding to the mounting separation of the plate-shaped mounting members on the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Emhart Inc.Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
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Patent number: 6179079Abstract: A motor vehicle is disclosed having a foam pad 13 located in the vicinity of a foot pedal 14, 15. The foam pad 13 has a recess into which the pedal 14, 15 can be fully accommodated when it is fully depressed. The thickness of the foam pad 13 is such that the upper surface of the foot pad 15 of the foot pedal is co-planar with the surface of the foam pad 13 when the foot pedal is at its extreme of travel so that it may support a foot 5 applied to the foot pad 15.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Rover Group LimitedInventor: Michael Neil Basnett
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Patent number: 6174018Abstract: In a vehicle of the type having a doorway opening at least on the driver's side and including a removable door hinged to the vehicle by means of a pintle provided on the door and a hinge plate mounted to the vehicle, a footrest is provided. The footrest includes an elongated surface for supporting a driver's foot and has at least two angularly related abutment surfaces. The first abutment surface is adapted to engage the hinge plate with the other surface being adapted to engage the doorjamb of the vehicle. A fastener is received in the hinge plate of the vehicle for securing the footrest thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Inventor: Janusz P. Mikulski
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Patent number: 6152474Abstract: A motorcycle foot rest for mounting to a motorcycle of the type having a substantially U-shaped crash bar with upper and lower bar portions. The foot rest includes a mounting plate having a mounting bore for receiving the upper bar portion of the crash bar of the motorcycle. A foot rest member includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member, with the first elongate member having an upper end and a lower end. The second elongate member has an inner end connected to the lower end of the first elongate member such that the longitudinal axis of the second elongate member is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first elongate member. The upper end of the first elongate member is pivotally connected to the mounting plate for permitting pivoting of the first elongate member about a substantially horizontal axis and swinging the second elongate member about the substantially horizontal axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Inventor: Gary A. Rupert
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Patent number: 6131485Abstract: A foot pedal extension system for permitting a short user to reach the foot pedals of a vehicle comfortably. The foot pedal extension system includes a foot pedal of a vehicle with a pivot arm and a foot pad coupled to a lower end of the pivot arm. The pivot arm of the foot pedal has an upper end pivotally coupled to the vehicle. An elongate extension arm has an inner end coupled to the pivot arm of the foot pedal between the upper and lower ends of the pivot arm. The extension arm is outwardly extended from the pivot arm of the foot pedal in a direction towards the foot pad of the foot pedal. An extension pad is coupled to an outer end of the extension arm located distal the inner end of the extension arm.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Inventor: Shaffaqat H. Raja
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Patent number: 6116630Abstract: A pair of foot rest and guard members that can be retrofitted on opposite sides of a three or four wheeled vehicle, such as an ATV or all terrain vehicle. Each foot rest and guard is the mirror image of the other and has an enclosing outer rigid lightweight frame structure made up of an inner frame member and an outer frame member which members are joined together by a third side frame member. Each of the rigid frame structures may be directly bolted to the ATV or may have a frame extension joined to its outer frame member that engages a like frame extension member of the other foot rest and guard. Within the enclosing opened frame structure of each foot rest and guard is an inner generally U-shaped foot rest frame member which is fixed to its outer frame member at its bight portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1999Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Inventor: Kenneth Eugene Thomas
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Patent number: 6113121Abstract: To provide foot boards which allow a rider to take a convenient position regardless of the rider's physique. In a four wheeled all-terrain vehicle having a body frame provided with substantially platelike foot board members for rider's resting feet at a lower position on both sides thereof, with a brake pedal being disposed to be depressed freely above an opening of one of the foot board members. A plurality of foot support members with the top surface thereof having an undulating configuration along the longitudinal direction thereof are disposed at intervals on the foot board members rearward the brake pedal for securely supporting the rider's foot. The foot support members are installed on the other foot board in a symmetrical configuration with respect to the center line of the vehicle body. Slip preventing members are positioned on the foot boards adjacent the foot support members to assist in maintaining the rider's feet on the foot boards.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumio Mizuta
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Patent number: 6102466Abstract: A foot-rest support plate for a vehicle in which the support plate is separate from a dashboard and a floor panel. The support plate is comprised of a vertical plate portion contacting a rear surface of the dashboard, a rearward-declining plate portion connected to a lower end of the vertical plate portion which faces the bottom of the feet of an occupant, and a horizontal plate portion connected to a lower end of the declining plate portion and contacting an upper surface of the floor panel. The vertical plate portion is coupled to the dashboard, the horizontal plate portion is coupled to the floor panel, and the declining plate portion is not coupled to the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1997Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinobu Kanazawa, Kimitaka Andoh, Toshihiko Iwamori
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Patent number: 6073515Abstract: An adjustable foot support for an automotive vehicle, having at least one adjustable actuating foot pedal movable between forward and rear pedal adjustment positions to accommodate varying leg lengths of various operators, includes a normally stationary foot rest for optionally resting a foot of a vehicle operator during periods of inactivity and foot rest adjusting means for selectively adjusting said foot rest between stationary forward and rear foot rest adjustment positions to position the foot rest in a comfortable position that accommodates the varying leg lengths of various operators. The adjusting means may be a powered linkage and is optionally movable in concert with the adjustment linkage of an associated pedal, such as a brake pedal.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Robert Douglas Elton, Michael Joseph McKale
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Patent number: 6070897Abstract: A bicycle foot peg of a hollow construction is fastened at one end thereof with a bicycle frame and provided in the inner wall of the open end thereof with an inner threaded portion. A fitting seat is disposed in the hollow interior of the bicycle foot peg and provided with a plurality of slots for holding hand tools such as a screwdriver and wrench. An outer cap is used to seal off the open end of the foot peg such that the outer cap is engaged securely with the outer end of the fitting seat, which in turn is engaged with the inner threaded portion of the foot peg.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1998Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Inventors: Te-Tsai Hsieh, Chin-Feng Lin, Ming-Liang Lin
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Patent number: 5893424Abstract: A foot board and brake pedal for a four wheeled all-terrain vehicle of light weight simple structure with an easy braking operation is provided, on which an operator's foot is freely movable during running, by which the operator's foot is protected from mud and water splashed by front wheels. A recessed portion is formed on a foot putting face of the foot board to accommodate the foot stepping portion of the brake pedal below the foot putting face when the braking pedal is stepped down. An opening is formed on a bottom wall of the recessed portion through which the foot stepping portion of the brake pedal can pass at the maximum stepping amount. The foot board is supported on a body frame by an inverted U-shaped bracket covering the arm portion of the brake pedal through a vibration damper member.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumasa Hisada
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Patent number: 5836637Abstract: A reversible floor panel for making the rear seat floor area adjustable in a passenger vehicle. The reversible floor panel is formed with a planar surface on one side and an extended surface on the other side. The extended surface is adapted to fit within a cavity of the vehicle floor. When the reversible floor panel is mounted with its extended surface facing upwardly for added passenger comfort, the space between the planar surface and the floor cavity also forms a hidden compartment for use by a passenger. The reversible floor panel may also be formed with an extended flange along one end that enables a footrest shape to be present in both of the reversible positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Ernest J. Laginess, Walter W. Frisbie, Allen G. Hicks
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Patent number: 5833261Abstract: A footrest/cover member is attached to the frame of an infant or child carrier such as a stroller. The footrest/cover member is pivotally attached to the stroller frame by a bar traversing the two front leg portions. The footrest cover member can serve as a footrest for a stroller or may be rotated upward to engage a resilient tab on a grab bar, thus enclosing the stroller leg area when the carrier is serving as a bassinet/carriage.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Fisher-Price, Inc.Inventors: Bryan M. Brown, Curt J. Mahlstedt
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Patent number: 5826900Abstract: A vehicle foot peg is disclosed for use with a motorcycle, ATV, or similar vehicle. The vehicle foot pegs are used in pairs and attached to the supplied foot peg brackets on the vehicle. The vehicle foot pegs are configured such that the outer ends of the pegs are angled rearward allowing the rider to rest the feet on the pegs in a natural and comfortable position with the toes slightly outward.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Inventor: Robert Steele
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Patent number: 5779254Abstract: A secondary footrest assembly is supplied for use by a passenger for use on a motorcycle to permit the passenger to vary his or her foot position. A preferred embodiment of the footrest assembly utilizes an elongated arm member arranged for support at its lower end, to a cantilever support member conventionally used to provide support to a foldable pedal-type footrest or to a conventional foldable peg-like footrest. The cantilever support member and the support at the lower end of the elongated arm member are each preferably configured in registering cross-section to prevent or resist torque exerted on the arm when foot pressure is applied to an alternate footrest extending from and supported by the distal end of the lever arm.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Squire & James, Ltd.Inventors: Raymond H. James, Gene W. Squire