Sub frame support system and running board for a vehicle

• US 5,193,829 A
• Filed: 11/19/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Inventors: Holloway, John O., Scott, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/796,063
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/164.1, 280/164.2, 280/166, 280/169, 280/770, 280/762, 293/128, 296/207, 296/62, 296/63, 296/75, 182/92
• US Class Current: 280/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/007 Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005

Abstract

A running board removably mounted to a vehicle on a sub frame support system. The sub frame support system has brackets adjustably mounted to the vehicle frame which support a receiving frame. The receiving frame is adjustably mounted to the brackets and has a pair of sockets for receiving the supporting members of the running board. The running board is a structural member having shaped support members extending from its ends and configured to mount in the sockets of the receiving frame. The running board is mounted to the vehicle by inserting the supporting members of the running board into the sockets of the receiving frame. Pins retain the support members in the sockets. The running board is removed from the vehicle by merely removing the pins and removing the running board from the receiving frame.

Claims

1. A running board assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

brackets universally mountable to a vehicle frame of said vehicle;

an elongate receiving frame, said brackets attachable to said elongate receiving frame at selected positions along the length thereof to secure said receiving frame to said vehicle frame at a selected position relative to said vehicle frame;

a pair of releasable mounts provided on said receiving frame at fixed spaced positions along its length;

a running board;

a pair of support members positioned adjacent each end of said running board and releasably mountable to said releasable mounts of said receiving frame; and

quick release fasteners fastening the supporting members of the running board to the releasable mounts of the receiving frame.

2. A running board assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein;

the receiving frame mounts are fixed receptacles and the support members have projecting ends configured to project into said receptacles, said support members pivotally attached to said running board for pivoting about a vertical axis to thereby permit alignment of the support members with the fixed receptacle mounts.

3. A running board assembly as defined in claim 2, including;

bushings inserted into the ends of the running board, said bushings having openings oversized for the support members and a vertically extended pin for pivotally mounting the support members to the bushing and thereby the running board end for providing the pivotal alignment of the support members to the releasable mounts.

4. A running board assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein;

said bushings are adjustably inserted in the ends of the running board for adjusting the spacing between the support members for mating the support members to the releasable mounts.

5. A running board assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein;

said support members provide an inclined angle at each end of the running board for deflecting objects encountered by the running board.

6. A sub frame support system for releasably mounting an accessory to a vehicle, comprising:

an elongate receiving frame;

brackets mountable to a vehicle frame and to the receiving frame at selected positions along its length for fixedly mounting the elongate receiving frame at a selected position relative to the vehicle frame;

a pair of cylindrical mounts fixed in spaced relation to the receiving frame;

a pair of elongate mounts configured to fit the cylindrical mounts;

a running board and said elongate mounts pivotally mounted about a vertical pivot to said running board and spaced to fit the cylindrical mounts whereby pivoting of the elongate mounts facilitates alignment for removable mounting of the elongate member to the receiving frame; and

a releasable lock for releasably locking the cylindrical mounts to the elongate mounts for securing the running board to the receiving frame.

7. A running board assembly for a vehicle comprising;

a pair of cylindrical mounts mountable at fixed space positions to a vehicle frame of said vehicle;

an elongate running board having a receiving bore at each end;

a configured support member for each end, said support member having one end inserted into the receiving bore of the running board and having a second end inserted into one of the cylindrical mounts, said receiving bore being oversized relative to said inserted end and a fastening pin vertically extended down through the running board and support member end to pivotally connect the support member end to said running board end and thereby provide limited pivoting of said support member relative to said running board as permitted by the oversized receiving bore;

a releasable fastener fastening said second end of said support member to said cylindrical mount to provide for selective removal and remounting of said running board to the vehicle.