Assembly including illuminated step pad

• US 6,709,137 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Decoma International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Decoma International Corporation
• Inventors: Glovak, Dan, Griffin, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/030,023
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/551, 362/555, 362/559, 362/576, 362/459, 362/478, 362/481, 362/487, 362/495, 362/511, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/153, 362/153.1, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/495
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• 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 lighted running board assembly having a mounting bracket and a framing network secured to such bracket. An illuminated step pad is secured to and supported by the framing network, such step pad including a light source, such as an LED, housed within a light housing member and disposed in a cavity of the framing network. Light is projected through a translucent surface of the step pad.

Claims

1. A lighted running board assembly (10) for use on an automotive vehicle, said lighted running board assembly, comprising:

a mounting bracket (12) adapted for mounting on the vehicle,

a framing network (20, 32) secured to said mounting bracket (12), said framing network including at least one cavity (22);

a light emitting step pad (78) secured to and supported by said framing network (20) and presenting an illuminating ingress and egress surface (80), said light emitting step pad having at least one light housing chamber (70) communicating with said cavity of said framing network, said light emitting step pad (78) having a translucent surface (80); and

a light source (72) mounted in said cavity of said framing network and housed within said light housing chamber (70) projecting light through said translucent surface of said light emitting step pad (78).

2. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said framing network (20) further includes a plurality of recess mounting cavities (22) spaced apart by a plurality of raised apex portion (24) defining a generally sinusoidal cross-section.

3. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said light emitting step pad (78) includes a generally horizontal and planar top surface (80) and a lower portion (82) supported on each of said raised apex portions (24) forming a plurality of light housing chambers (70) between said light emitting step pad and each of said recess mounting cavities.

4. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 3 further including an independent light source (72, 74, 76) mounted to each of said mounting cavities (22) and housing with each of said light housing chambers (70) for projecting light through said light emitting step pad (78).

5. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said framing network including a primary support framing network (20) supported on and removably coupled to said mounting bracket (12), an integral framing network (32) in mating engagement with and removably coupled to said primary support framing network (20), and a reflective framing network in mating engagement with and removably coupled to said integral framing network, said reflective framing network forming a plurality of reflective cavities (58) overlaying said recessed mounting cavities for reflecting light from said light source (72, 74, 76) towards said light emitting step pad (78).

6. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said light emitting step pad (78) includes a plurality of steps (87) extending from said top surface (80) forming a non-planar top surface for providing additional grip to the occupant of the vehicle.

7. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (74).

8. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light source is a bulb and filament (76).

9. A lighted running board assembly for use on an automotive vehicle, said lighted running board assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on the vehicle;

a generally horizontally extending framing network removably secured to said mounting bracket, said framing network including a lower support portion and an upper header portion;

a generally horizontally extending light emitting step pad removably secured to said framing network between said lower support portion and said upper header portion for providing an ingress and egress step to an occupant of the vehicle, said light emitting step pad having at least one integrally formed light housing chamber and having at least a translucent portion; and

a light source mounted within said light housing chamber of said light emitting step pad for projecting light through said translucent portion of said light emitting step pad.

10. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said framing network includes a first end and a horizontally extending second end, said light emitting step pad secured to said framing network between said first and second end.

11. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said light emitting step pad includes a distal end adjacent said second end of said framing network and a header end secured between said upper header portion and said first end of said framing network.

12. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said light housing chamber is integrally formed in said header end of said light emitting step pad and said light source is housed within said light housing chamber to project light upwardly through light emitting step pad adjacent said distal end and outwardly from said header end.

13. A lighted running board assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting step pad forms a light pipe and said light source includes a light emitting diode.

14. A lighted running board assembly for use on an automotive vehicle, said lighted running board assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket (12) adapted to be mounted on the vehicle;

a generally horizontally extending framing network (22) removably secured to said mounting bracket (12), said framing network (22) including at least one recessed mounting cavity (22);

a generally horizontally extending light emitting step pad (88) removably secured to said framing network (20) for providing an ingress and egress step to an occupant of the vehicle, said light emitting step pad (88) having at least one integrally formed light housing chamber in mating engagement with said mounting cavity of said framing network and having at least a translucent portion; and

a light source (72) mounted within said light housing chamber of said light emitting step pad for projecting light upwardly through said translucent portion of said light emitting step pad.