Vehicle rocker guard with integrated pivoting storable step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10556560-B2
Application number	US-201715795032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2017
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

A guard for a vehicle includes a support tube. A pivoting step includes a pivot tube portion movable about the support tube between a stowed position and a deployed position and a step portion. A spring member is disposed between the support tube and pivot tube biasing the pivot tube toward one of the stowed position and deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A guard for a vehicle comprising:
a support tube;
a pivoting step including a pivot tube portion movable about the support tube between a stowed position and a deployed position and a step portion, wherein the support tube and pivot tube portion comprise round tubes with the pivot tube supported for rotation on an outer circumference of the support tube; and
a spring member disposed between the support tube and pivot tube biasing the pivot tube toward one of the stowed position and deployed position.

2. The guard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step portion comprises one of a round tube, an oval tube and a rectilinear tube in cross-section extending outward from the pivot tube portion.

3. The guard as recited in claim 1 , including at least one stop pin extending outward from the support tube to limit rotation of the pivot tube portion between the stowed and deployed positions.

4. The guard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the support tube includes distal ends that extend past ends of the pivot tube portion, the distal ends secured to attachment brackets secured to the motor vehicle.

5. The guard as recited in claim 4 , wherein the pivot tube includes gaps where the support tube is exposed, and the support tube is attached to at least one attachment bracket within the gaps.

6. The guard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the stowed position includes the step portion angled upward above a horizontal plane extending through the support tube and the deployed position includes the step angled downward below the horizontal plane.

7. The guard as recited in claim 6 , wherein the spring member biases the step toward the stowed position.

8. The guard as recited in claim 6 , wherein the spring member biases the step toward the deployed position.

9. The guard as recited in claim 6 , wherein the pivoting step extends upwardly past a portion of a lower body panel of the vehicle in the stowed position.

10. The guard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pivoting step is mounted proximate a lower side panel of the motor vehicle.

11. The guard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the support tube includes a continuous length between a first end and a second end and the step portion is shorter than the continuous length of the support tube.

12. A guard for a vehicle comprising:
a support tube;
a pivoting step including a pivot tube portion movable about the support tube between a stowed position and a deployed position and a step portion, the support tube including distal ends that extend past ends of the pivot tube portion, the distal ends secured to attachment brackets secured to the motor vehicle, wherein the pivot tube includes gaps where the support tube is exposed, and the support tube is attached to at least one attachment bracket within the gaps; and
a spring member disposed between the support tube and pivot tube biasing the pivot tube toward one of the stowed position and the deployed position.

13. The guard as recited in claim 12 , wherein the support tube and pivot tube portion comprise round tubes with the pivot tube supported for rotation on an outer circumference of the support tube.

14. The guard as recited in claim 12 , wherein the step portion comprises one of a round tube, an oval tube and a rectilinear tube in cross-section extending outward from the pivot tube portion.

15. The guard as recited in claim 12 , including at least one stop pin extending outward from the support tube to limit rotation of the pivot tube portion between the stowed and deployed positions.

16. The guard as recited in claim 15 , wherein the pivoting step extends upwardly past a portion of a lower body panel of the vehicle in the stowed position.

17. The guard as recited in claim 12 , wherein the stowed position includes the step portion angled upward above a horizontal plane extending through the support tube and the deployed position includes the step angled downward below the horizontal plane.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Rife Dean Robert
• Garland Travis S
• Beilman Mark

Classifications

• B60R3/002

  Running boards (for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02) · CPC title

• B60R3/02

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R19/42

  extending primarily along the sides of, or completely encircling, a vehicle (ornamental or guard strips B60R13/04) · CPC title

• B60R19/38 Primary

  adjustably or movably mounted, e.g. horizontally displaceable for securing a space between parked vehicles {(adjustably mounted for compensating manufacturing tolerances B60R19/24, B60R19/26)} · CPC title

• B60R9/02

  at the sides, e.g. on running-board · CPC title