Independent running board actuation
First Claim
1. A drop-down running board assembly, comprising:
- at least one linkage assembly connected to a vehicle having at least one door;
a sensor having a first part and a second part, one of said first part or said second part mounted to said door, the other of said first part or said second part mounted to said vehicle;
a step portion connected to said at least one linkage assembly;
an actuator connected to said at least one linkage assembly such that said actuator moves said at least one linkage assembly and said step portion to a deployed position when said at least one door is moved to an open position and said first part of said sensor is moved away from said second part of said sensor, and a stowed position when said door is moved to a closed position and said first part of said sensor is positioned substantially adjacent said second part of said sensor; and
separate wires connected between the sensor and the actuator, wherein the separate wires are separate from a wiring system of the vehicle and movement of the drop down running board assembly is triggered by a signal separate from the other signals being transmitted throughout the vehicle.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drop-down running board assembly includes at least one linkage assembly connected to a vehicle having at least one door, and a sensor having a first part and a second part, one part of the sensor is mounted to a door, the other part of the sensor mounted to the vehicle. A step portion is connected to the linkage assembly. There is also an actuator connected to the linkage assembly such that the actuator moves the linkage assembly and the step portion to a deployed position when the door is opened and the first part of the sensor is moved away from the second part of the sensor, and a retracted position when the door is closed and the first part of the sensor is positioned substantially adjacent the second part of the sensor.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A drop-down running board assembly, comprising:
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at least one linkage assembly connected to a vehicle having at least one door; a sensor having a first part and a second part, one of said first part or said second part mounted to said door, the other of said first part or said second part mounted to said vehicle; a step portion connected to said at least one linkage assembly; an actuator connected to said at least one linkage assembly such that said actuator moves said at least one linkage assembly and said step portion to a deployed position when said at least one door is moved to an open position and said first part of said sensor is moved away from said second part of said sensor, and a stowed position when said door is moved to a closed position and said first part of said sensor is positioned substantially adjacent said second part of said sensor; and separate wires connected between the sensor and the actuator, wherein the separate wires are separate from a wiring system of the vehicle and movement of the drop down running board assembly is triggered by a signal separate from the other signals being transmitted throughout the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A drop-down running board assembly, comprising:
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a step portion; a first linkage assembly connected to said step portion; a second linkage assembly connected to said step portion; a door pivotally connected to a vehicle; a sensor for detecting when said door is moved between an open position and a closed position; an actuator connected to one of said first linkage assembly or said second linkage assembly such that when said door is moved to an open position, said sensor detects said door is opened, and said actuator moves said first linkage assembly, said second linkage assembly, and said step portion from a stowed position to a deployed position; and separate wires connected between the sensor and the actuator, wherein the separate wires are separate from a wiring system of the vehicle and movement of the drop down running board assembly is triggered by a signal separate from the other signals being transmitted throughout the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A drop-down running board assembly:
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a step portion; a first linkage assembly connected to said step portion; a second linkage assembly connected to said step portion; an electric motor connected to said first linkage assembly through the use of a gear train assembly; a sensor; a controller operable for controlling the operation of said electric motor by a condition detected by said sensor; a first part of said sensor; a second part of said sensor; a vehicle having a vehicle frame, each of said first linkage assembly and said second linkage assembly connected to said vehicle frame; a door sill being part of said vehicle, said first part of said sensor mounted to said door sill; a door being part of said vehicle, said second part of said sensor mounted to said door such that said first part of said sensor is in substantial alignment with said second part of said sensor when said door is in a closed position, and first linkage assembly, said second linkage assembly, and said step portion are in a stowed position; wherein said first linkage assembly, said second linkage assembly, and said step portion are in a deployed position when said door is in an open position such that said first part of said sensor is moved away from said second part of said sensor a first set of wires connected to the motor and the controller; a second set of wires connected to the first part of the sensor; wherein the first set of wires and the second set or wires are separate wires that are separate from the wiring system of the vehicle and the movement of the drop down running board assembly is triggered by a signal separate from the other signals being transmitted throughout the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification