Retractable vehicle step

• US 7,398,985 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 89908 Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst, Smith, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walters; John D
• Application Number:
  US11/182,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/166
• US Class Current: 280/166
• 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 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The second arm also has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The motor is drivingly connected to the first arm such that a rotation of the motor causes rotation of the first arm about its first end and moves the stepping member from a retracted position to an extended position, or vice versa. The stop is located within the range of motion of the second arm such that the second arm bears against the stop when the stepping member is in the extended position. The first and second arms are situated such that the first arm is loaded in compression and the second arm is loaded in tension when the stepping member is in the extended position and a load is placed upon it. In another embodiment, a retractable vehicle step assist comprises a rigid frame, a forward planar linkage pivotably connected to the frame along a forward upper connection width, and a rearward planar linkage pivotably connected to the frame along a rearward upper connection width. The retractable vehicle step further comprises a rigid step member having a stepping deck. The step member is pivotably connected to the forward planar linkage along a forward lower connection width, and is pivotably connected to the rearward planar linkage along a rearward lower connection width and on a side of the forward planar linkage opposite the stepping deck. The stepping deck is substantially wider than any of the forward upper connection width, the rearward upper connection width, the forward lower connection width, and the rearward lower connection width.

Claims

1. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:

a rigid frame;

a first support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a first axis;

a second support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a second axis located inboard of said first axis; and

a step member having a stepping deck;

said first support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis, said first support arm defining a fixed distance between said first axis and said third axis;

said second support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a fourth axis located inboard of said third axis;

said first and second support arms configured to allow said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position downward and outboard from said retracted position, the entirety of said step member being situated lower than said first and second axes when in said deployed position;

wherein said support arms have a range of motion that includes a first position in which said second support arm is at least partly nested within said first support arm, and a second position in which no portion of said second support arm is nested within said first support arm.

2. The vehicle step assist of claim 1, wherein said first position comprises said deployed position.

3. The vehicle step assist of claim 1, wherein said first position comprises said retracted position.

4. The vehicle step assist of claim 1, wherein:

said first support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a first thickness, said first arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a first width, said first width being substantially greater than said first thickness; and

said second support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a second thickness, said second arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a second width, said second width being substantially greater than said second thickness.

5. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:

a rigid frame;

a first support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a first axis, said first support arm having an inboard surface that forms a depression;

a second support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a second axis located inboard of said first axis; and

a step member having a stepping deck;

said first support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis, said first support arm defining a fixed distance between said first axis and said third axis;

said second support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a fourth axis located inboard of said third axis;

said first and second support arms configured to allow said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position downward and outboard from said retracted position, the entirety of said step member being situated lower than said first and second axes when in said deployed position;

wherein said support arms have a range of motion that includes a first position in which a portion of said second support arm is positioned within said depression, and a second position in which no portion of said second support arm is positioned within said depression.

6. The vehicle step assist of claim 5, wherein said first position comprises said deployed position.

7. The vehicle step assist of claim 5, wherein said first position comprises said retracted position.

8. The vehicle step assist of claim 5, wherein:

said first support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an outboard surface opposite said inboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a first thickness, said first arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a first width, said first width being substantially greater than said first thickness; and

said second support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a second thickness, said second arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a second width, said second width being substantially greater than said second thickness.

9. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:

a rigid frame;

a first support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a first axis;

a second support arm pivotably connected to said frame, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said frame about a second axis located inboard of said first axis; and

a step member having a stepping deck;

said first support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said first support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis, said first support arm defining a fixed distance between said first axis and said third axis;

said second support arm pivotably connected to said step member, said second support arm pivotable with respect to said step member about a fourth axis located inboard of said third axis;

said first and second support arms configured to allow said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position downward and outboard from said retracted position, the entirety of said step member being situated lower than said first and second axes when in said deployed position;

said first support arm forming a recessed portion which is located such that said support arms can rotate about said first and second axes to a first position in which a portion of said second support arm is spaced from a line connecting said first and third axes by an orthogonal distance less than half the maximum thickness of said first support arm, and a second position in which said second support arm is spaced from said connecting line by a greater orthogonal distance.

10. The vehicle step assist of claim 9, wherein said first position comprises said deployed position.

11. The vehicle step assist of claim 9, wherein said first position comprises said retracted position.

12. The vehicle step assist of claim 9, wherein:

said first support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a first thickness, said first arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a first width, said first width being substantially greater than said first thickness; and

said second support arm comprises a unitary arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a second thickness, said second arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a second width, said second width being substantially greater than said second thickness.