Running board for use with motor vehicle and method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle

• US 6,581,946 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lund International Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lund, David M., Iverson, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Kelly E
• Application Number:
  US09/775,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/164.1, 280/169, 296/75
• 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

Abstract

A running board for a motor vehicle is provided. The running board includes a bracket assembly and a shroud for covering the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly includes a forward fastening plate and a rearward fastening plate for attachment to a motor vehicle, a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate, and a step member attached to the bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and providing a step area. The shroud includes a step shroud constructed to cover the step member, a forward shroud constructed to cover the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate, and a rearward shroud constructed to cover the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate. The running board can include a bracket adapter for attaching the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate to the motor vehicle. A method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A running board for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a bracket assembly comprising;

(i) a forward fastening plate and a rearward fastening plate;

(ii) a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate;

(iii) a step member attached to the bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the reward fastening plate and providing a step area;

(b) shroud for covering the bracket assembly comprising;

(i) a step shroud constructed to cover and enclose the step member of the bracket assembly;

(ii) a forward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate, and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle; and

(iii) a rearward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate, and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle; and

(c) a forward bracket adapter and a rearward bracket adapter, the forward bracket adapter comprising a bracket attachment area for attachment to the forward fastening plate and a vehicle attachment area for attachment to a motor vehicle, and the rearward bracket adapter comprising a bracket attachment area for attachment to the rearward fastening plate and a vehicle attachment area for attachment to a motor vehicle.

2. A running board according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) fastener for fastening the shroud to the bracket assembly.

3. A running board according to claim 2, wherein the fastener is provided attaching the step shroud to the step member.

4. A running board according to claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of mechanical fasteners.

5. A running board according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise rivets.

6. A running board according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a tread mat covering at least a portion of the step shroud.

7. A running board according to claim 6, wherein the tread mat is adhered to the step shroud by adhesive.

8. A running board according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter comprises a spacer for providing a gap between the forward fastening plate or the rearward fastening plate and the motor vehicle, wherein the gap has a size sufficient to allow air conditioning lines to pass therethrough without being pinched.

9. A running board of claim 1, wherein the step shroud, forward shroud and the rearward shroud define a gap between a motor vehicle exterior surface and the step shroud when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of attaching the forward bracket adapter and the reward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle comprises attaching the forward bracket adapter to a pinch weld and floorboard of the motor vehicle and attaching the rearward bracket adapter to a pinch weld and floorboard of the motor vehicle.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of attaching the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle comprises providing a spacer between at least one of the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and the motor vehicle to provide a gap having a size sufficient to allow passage therethrough of air conditioning lines without pinching the air conditioning lines.

19. A running board of claim 1, further comprising a first cushioning pad and a second cushioning pad arranged relative to the forward shroud and the rearward shroud, respectively, to protect a motor vehicle exterior surface.

10. A method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

(a) attaching a forward bracket adapter to a forward fastening plate and attaching a rearward bracket adapter to a rearward fastening plate, the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate being provided as part of a bracket assembly including a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and a step member attached to the bar;

(b) attaching the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle; and

(c) attaching a shroud to a bracket assembly, the shroud comprising;

(i) a step shroud covering and enclosing the step member of the bracket assembly;

(ii) a forward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to a forward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface; and

(iii) a rearward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of fastening the shroud to the bracket assembly comprises utilizing fasteners for fastening the step shroud to the step member.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical fasteners comprise rivets.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of:

(a) adhering a tread mat to the exterior surface of the step shroud by adhesive.

16. A method of claim 10, further comprising a step of:

(d) arranging a first cushioning pad and a second cushioning pad relative to the forward shroud and the rearward shroud, respectively, to protect a motor vehicle exterior surface.

17. A method of claim 10, wherein the step of attaching the shroud to the bracket assembly comprises arranging the step shroud, forward shroud and the rearward shroud to define a gap between a motor vehicle exterior surface and the step shroud when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle.

18. A running board for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a bracket assembly comprising;

(i) a forward fastening plate and a rearward fastening plate for attachment to a motor vehicle;

(ii) a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate;

(iii) a step member attached to the bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and providing a step area; and

(b) shroud for covering the bracket assembly comprising;

(i) a step shroud constructed to cover and enclose the step member of the bracket assembly;

(ii) a forward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to the motor vehicle; and

(iii) a rearward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to the motor vehicle.

20. A running board of claim 18, further comprising a first cushioning pad and a second cushioning pad arranged relative to the forward shroud and rearward shroud, respectively, to protect a motor vehicle exterior surface.

21. A running board of claim 18, wherein the step shroud, forward shroud and the rearward shroud define a gap between a motor vehicle exterior surface and the step shroud when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle.

22. A method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

(a) attaching a forward fastening plate and attaching a rearward fastening plate to a motor vehicle, wherein the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate being provided as part of a bracket assembly comprising a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate, and a step member attached to the bar;

(b) attaching a shroud to the bracket assembly, the shroud comprising;

(i) a step shroud covering and enclosing the step member of the bracket assembly;

(ii) a forward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface; and

(iii) a rearward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to a rearward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of fastening the shroud to the bracket assembly comprises utilizing fasteners for fastening the step shroud to the step member.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the mechanical fasteners comprise rivets.

25. A method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of:

(c) adhering a tread mat to the exterior surface of the step shroud by adhesive.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of attaching the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle comprises attaching the forward bracket adapter to a pinch weld and floorboard of the motor vehicle and attaching the rearward bracket adapter to a pinch weld and floorboard of the motor vehicle.

27. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of attaching the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle comprises providing a spacer between at least one of the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and the motor vehicle to provide a gap having a size sufficient to allow passage therethrough of air conditioning lines without pinching the air conditioning lines.

28. A method of claim 22, further comprising a step of:

(c) arranging a first cushioning pad and a second cushioning pad relative to the forward shroud and the rearward shroud, respectively, to protect a motor vehicle exterior surface.

29. A method of claim 22, wherein the step of attaching the shroud to the bracket assembly comprises arranging the step shroud, forward shroud and the rearward shroud to define a gap between a motor vehicle exterior surface and the step shroud when the running board is attached to a motor vehicle.