VEHICLE STEP, STEP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING A STEP ASSEMBLY

• US 20130221632A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fab Fours Inc.
• Inventors: HIGGS, Gregory Neal, RAFALKO, Eric Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/406,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20130221632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/169
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/00 Arrangements of steps or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle, e.g. running-boards construction of steps for railway vehicles B61D23/00 ; ladders E06C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle step includes a tread, a riser at a rear of the step that extends from the tread, and a side wall that extends from the tread and the riser. A top part may extend from the side wall and slope outward to a front of the tread, and an outer part may extend from the top part and at an outward angle. The step may be stamped from a single sheet of material.

Claims

1. A vehicle step assembly comprising;

a substantially horizontal cylindrical side bar; and

a step stamped from a single sheet of material attached to the side bar, wherein the step comprises;

a pair of side walls stamped from the single sheet of material.

2. The step assembly according to claim 1, wherein the step comprises:

a tread and a riser stamped from the single sheet of material.

5. The step assembly according to claim 2, wherein a top of the riser and a top of each of the side walls correspond to a shape of the side bar.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

6. A method of forming a vehicle step assembly, comprising:

bringing a stamped step and a substantially horizontal cylindrical side bar into abutment; and

attaching the step to the side bar, wherein the step comprises a pair of side walls.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step includes a tread and a riser stamped from a single sheet of material.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step includes a tread and the pair of side walls stamped from a single sheet of material.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step includes a tread, a riser and the pair of side walls stamped from a single sheet of material.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a top of the riser and a top of each of the side walls correspond to a shape of the side bar and the attaching is performed by welding.

11. A vehicle step assembly comprising:

a substantially horizontal cylindrical side bar; and

a step attached to the side bar, the step comprising a tread, a riser and a pair of side walls,

wherein a top of each side wall is shaped to mate with a shape of the side bar.

12. The step assembly according to claim 11, wherein the step includes a pair of side portions, each side portion includes a side wall of the pair of side walls, a top part that extends from the side wall and slopes outward toward a front of the tread, and an outer part that extends from the top part and extends at an outward angle.

13. The step assembly according to claim 12, wherein a rear portion of each top part is shaped to mate with the shape of the side bar.

14. The step assembly according to claim 12, wherein a top of the outer part is shaped to mate with the shape of the side bar.

15. The step assembly according to claim 12, wherein a top of each of the riser, the top part, and the outer part abut the side bar.

16. The step assembly according to claim 15, wherein the step is welded to the side bar at points of abutment of the riser, side walls, top part and outer part to the side bar.

17. The step assembly according to claim 11, wherein the step is formed from a single sheet of material.

18. A vehicle step comprising:

a tread,

a riser at a rear of the step that extends from the tread; and

a side portion with a side wall that is adjacent to and integral with the tread and the riser, a top part that extends from the side wall and slopes downward and outward toward a front of the tread, and an outer part that extends from the top part and extends at an outward angle toward a plane that contains the rear of the step.

19. The step according to claim 18, wherein the step is formed from a single sheet of material.

20. The step according to claim 18, wherein a top of the riser and a front of the tread are substantially perpendicular, with a bottom of the riser curving down to meet the tread.

21. The step according to claim 18, wherein the side portion includes a pair of side portions, each side portion leans outward at a top of the step such that a distance between the side portions is greater at the top of the step than at a bottom of the step.

22. The step according to claim 18, further comprising a lip that extends downward from a front of the tread and from a front of the top part.

23. A vehicle step assembly comprising;

a substantially horizontal side bar; and

a step stamped from a single sheet of material attached to the side bar, wherein the step comprises;

a pair of side walls stamped from the single sheet of material, wherein the side bar is attached to the side walls via an upper surface of the side walls.

24. A method of forming a vehicle step assembly, comprising:

bringing a stamped step and a substantially horizontal side bar into abutment; and

attaching the step to the side bar, wherein the step comprises a pair of side walls and the side bar is attached to the side walls via an upper surface of the side walls.

25. A vehicle step assembly comprising:

a substantially horizontal side bar; and

a step attached to the side bar, the step comprising a tread, a riser and a pair of side walls,

wherein a top of each side wall is shaped to mate with a shape of the side bar, and

wherein the side bar is attached to the side walls via an upper surface of the side walls.