Driver driving position adjustable device of vehicle

• US 7,419,029 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Uemura, Hiroki, Ohtsubo, Tomonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rocca; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/968,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20050109555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 180/326, 180/90.6, 180/330, 296/75, 296/65.05, 296/65.08, 745/12, 745/60, 745/62, 745/625
• US Class Current: 180/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

There is provided a driver driving position adjusting device, comprising a movable floor panel adjusting mechanism operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a movable floor panel, an adjusting device operative to adjust at least one of a seat face position of a driver seat, an operating angle of the pedal operated by the leg portion of the driver and a position of a steering, and a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate the movable floor panel adjusting mechanism and the adjusting device.

Accordingly, the proper driving position and pedal operation can be provided regardless of the body size of driver, by adjusting at least the vertical position of the movable floor panel on which the leg portion of the driver operating the pedal is placed.

Claims

1. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising at least a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust a seat face position of a driver seat including a seat cushion and a seat back; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the seat position adjusting device of said adjusting device,

wherein said seat position adjusting device comprises a pair of support links that are provided so as to support the driver seat in such a manner that a front-located link of the support links pivotally supports a font portion of the driver seat and a rear-located link of the support links pivotally supports a rear portion of the driver seat, and said seat position adjusting device is operative to adjust a height and an angle of the seat cushion of the driver seat by changing an inclination angle of the support links so that the seat face position of the driver seat can be adjusted.

2. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

said adjusting device further comprises a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal operated by the leg portion of the driver;

said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to adjust the seat, pedal and floor panel such that the driver is moved along a specified arc having a center thereof which corresponds to a rotational center of the pedal under a state where a specified driver position is maintained, and is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device such that the devices are adjusted together with a specified relationship; and

said seat position adjusting device is operative to adjust the angle, a longitudinal position and a vertical position of the seat cushion of the driver seat so that the seat face position of the driver seat can be adjusted.

3. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said adjusting device further comprises a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal to be operated by a leg portion of the driver, there is provided another driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the pedal position adjusting device of said adjusting device, and

wherein the floor panel and the pedal are adjusted so that an angle therebetween has substantially the same value regardless of positions thereof.

4. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device operative to adjust at least one of a seat face position of a driver seat including a seat cushion and a seat back, an operating angle of the pedal to be operated by the leg portion of the driver, and a position of a steering; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said adjusting device,

wherein said floor panel position adjusting device is operative to adjust the vertical position and a panel angle of the floor panel.

5. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein said adjusting device comprises a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust at least the operating angle of the pedal to be operated by the leg portion of the driver, and said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device.

6. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein said adjusting device comprises a steering position adjusting device operative to adjust the position of the steering, and said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said steering position adjusting device.

7. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein said adjusting device comprises a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust the seat face position of the driver, and said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said seat position adjusting device.

8. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

said adjusting device comprises a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust the seat face position of the driver seat and a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust the operating angle of the pedal operated by the leg portion of the driver; and

said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to adjust the seat, pedal and floor panel such that the driver is moved along a specified arc having a center thereof which corresponds to a rotational center of the pedal under a state where a specified driver position is maintained, and is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device such that the devices are adjusted together with a specified relationship.

9. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein the panel angle of the floor panel is adjusted so as to change from a front-high and rear-low position to a front-low and rear-high position when the floor panel is moved upward from a lower position.

10. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 4, wherein said adjusting device further comprises a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal to be operated by a leg portion of the driver, there is provided another driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the pedal position adjusting device of said adjusting device, and

wherein the floor panel and the pedal are adjusted so that an angle therebetween has substantially the same value regardless of positions thereof.

11. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising at least a seal position adjusting device operative to adjust a seat face position of a driver seat including a seat cushion and a seat back; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the seat position adjusting device of said adjusting device,

wherein the floor panel adjusted by said floor panel position adjusting device is moved upward when the seat adjusted by said seat position adjusting device is moved forward and upward.

12. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein said adjusting device further comprises a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal operated by the leg portion of the driver,

said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to adjust the seat, pedal and floor panel such that the driver is moved along a specified arc having a center thereof which corresponds to a rotational center of the pedal under a state where a specified driver position is maintained, and is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device such that the devices are adjusted together with a specified relationship, and

a position of the floor panel is adjusted by said floor panel position adjusting device in relation to the seat position adjustment of said seat position adjusting device.

13. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein said adjusting device further comprises a steering position adjusting device operative to adjust a position of the steering, and said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said adjusting device.

14. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust a seat face position of a driver seat and a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal to be operated by a leg portion of the driver; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said adjusting device,

wherein a position of the pedal is adjusted by said pedal position adjusting device in relation to a seat position adjustment of said seat position adjusting device, and

the pedal adjusted by said pedal position adjusting device is moved toward the driver when the seat adjusted by said seat position adjusting device is moved forward and upward from a rear and lower position thereof.

15. The driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle of claim 14, wherein said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to adjust the seat, pedal and floor panel such that the driver is moved along a specified arc having a center thereof which corresponds to a rotational center of the pedal under a state where a specified driver position is maintained, and is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device such that the devices are adjusted together with a specified relationship.

16. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising at least a steering position adjusting device operative to adjust a position of a steering, the steering position adjusting device being configured to move the steering around a rotational center provided at a lower portion of a steering shaft of the steering; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the steering position adjusting device of said adjusting device,

wherein said driving position adjusting operating device operative operates the floor panel position adjusting device and the steering position adjusting device such that the floor panel adjusted by said floor panel position adjusting device is moved upward from a lower position thereof when a steering wheel of the steering adjusted by said steering position adjusting device is moved upward and forward.

17. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle, comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising at least a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust a seat face position of a driver seat including a seat cushion and a seat back; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the seat position adjusting device of said adjusting device, wherein said seat position adjusting device is operative to adjust a height and an angle of the seat cushion of the driver seat so that the seat face position of the driver seat can be adjusted, and the angle of the seat cushion of the driver seat is adjusted so as to change from a front-high and rear-low position toward a horizontal position when the driver seat is moved forward and upward.

18. A driver driving position adjusting device of a vehicle comprising:

a floor panel position adjusting device operative to adjust at least a vertical position of a floor panel on which a leg portion of a driver operating a pedal is placed;

an adjusting device comprising at least a pedal position adjusting device operative to adjust an operating angle of the pedal to be operated by a leg portion of the driver; and

a driving position adjusting operating device operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and the pedal position adjusting device of said adjusting device,

wherein the pedal adjusted by said pedal position adjusting device is moved toward the driver when the floor panel adjusted by said floor panel position adjusting device is moved upward from a lower position thereof,

said adjusting device further comprises a seat position adjusting device operative to adjust a seat face position of the driver seat; and

said driving position adjusting operating device is operative to adjust the seat, pedal and floor panel such that the driver is moved along a specified arc having a center thereof which corresponds to a rotational center of the pedal under a state where a specified driver position is maintained, and is operative to operate said floor panel position adjusting device and said pedal position adjusting device such that the devices are adjusted together with a specified relationship.