Vehicle foot pedal stowage and concealment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10913419-B2
Application number	US-201916445567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Jun 19, 2019
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A footwell assembly for a vehicle is disposed herein. The footwell assembly includes at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use position and a stowed position. A receiving member is positioned within the footwell and is defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position. A cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member and is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A footwell assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use position and a stowed position;
a receiving member positioned within the footwell and defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position; and
a cover feature positioned within the footwell and configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.

2. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover feature comprises:
a floor mat disposed in the footwell and configured to extend to cover the at least one foot pedal in the stowed position.

3. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover feature comprises:
a plurality of finger features coupled to the receiving member proximate to the recess and configured to yieldingly allow the at least one foot pedal to ingress and egress the recess as the at least one foot pedal moves between the use and stowed positions.

4. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover feature comprises:
a panel feature disposed within the footwell and operable between a first position and a second concealment position, wherein the panel feature is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal in the stowed position.

5. The footwell assembly of claim 4 , wherein the panel feature is coupled to the receiving member and configured to pivot from the first position to the second concealment position.

6. The footwell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the panel feature comprises:
a living hinge about which the panel feature is configured to pivot.

7. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one foot pedal comprises:
an accelerator pedal.

8. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member.

9. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one foot pedal is deactivated while in the stowed position.

10. The footwell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover feature is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal by moving from a first position to a second concealment position, wherein the cover feature is coupled to the receiving member and extends across at least a portion of the recess while the at least one foot pedal is in the stowed position.

11. A system for stowing foot pedals in a footwell of a vehicle, comprising:
at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell of the vehicle and operable between a use position and a stowed position vehicle forward of the use position;
a receiving member disposed vehicle forward of the at least one foot pedal; and
a cover feature operable to enter a concealment position when the at least one foot pedal is in the stowed position, wherein the cover feature is coupled to the receiving member, the at least one foot pedal is disposed between the receiving member and the cover feature, and the cover feature is positioned vehicle rearward of the at least one foot pedal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one foot pedal comprises:
an accelerator pedal.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one foot pedal further comprises:
a brake pedal.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the accelerator pedal is deactivated while in the stowed position.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiving member defines a recess configured to receive the at least one foot pedal as the at least one foot pedal moves from the use position to the stowed position.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a footwell;
an accelerator pedal positioned within the footwell and operable between a use position, and a stowed position;
a receiving member positioned within the footwell and defining a recess configured to receive the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is in the stowed position; and
a cover feature coupled to the receiving member and configured to cover the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is in the stowed position and within the recess defined by the receiving member, wherein the cover feature is positioned between the stowed position and the use position of the accelerator pedal.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the accelerator pedal is deactivated while in the stowed position.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the use position of the accelerator pedal is vehicle rearward of the stowed position.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the receiving member is positioned vehicle forward of the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is in the use position and when the accelerator pedal is in the stowed position.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising:
a motor operable to move the accelerator pedal between the use position and the stowed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mullen Gary D
• Shinska John A
• Pfirman Gregory
• Brown Keith

Classifications

• G05G1/44

  pivoting · CPC title

• B60N3/044

  of removable mats (B60N3/046, B60N3/048 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2011/0003

  inside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60K26/02

  of initiating means or elements · CPC title

• G05D1/00

  Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) · CPC title