Deployable foot rest for a motor vehicle

Details Deployable foot rest for a motor vehicle Deployable foot rest for a motor vehicle

1999-12-20

2001-06-05

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Foot rests

C180S090600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06241301

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally pertains to motor vehicles. More particular, the present invention pertains to a deployable foot rest for a motor vehicle.
2. Discussion
The front seats of motor vehicles are mounted on a passenger compartment floor. The floor provides a surface upon which passengers normally rest their feet. The passenger compartment floor is typically flat and connects to an angled toe board adjacent the fire wall. The flat compartment floor is often uncomfortable for foot support, particularly during longer trips. The angle of the toe board frequently provides a convenient surface upon which the passenger may rest his or her feet.
Since vehicle passengers come in all sizes, a concerted effort has been made to accommodate the extremes. As a result, it is often impossible or inconvenient for a motor vehicle passenger to use the angled toe board as a foot rest surface. In many instances, the passenger cannot comfortably reach the angled toe board. In other instances, the vehicle seat may need to be translated unnecessarily close to the instrument panel for the passenger's feet to comfortably reach the angled toe board.
A wide variety of amenities are provided in modern day motor vehicles to further occupant convenience and comfort. However, a need remains in the relevant art for comfortably supporting the feet of a passenger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a deployable foot rest for a motor vehicle.
In one form, the present invention provides 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.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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