Vehicle body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10829022-B2
Application number	US-201816223722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 18, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A cargo area structure has a retractable step installed to the cargo area structure beneath a floor and a first side wall thereof. A handle assembly has a base and a grip handle supported to the base. The base is attached to an upright surface of the first side wall. The base also has a position locking mechanism configured such that in response to manual operation of the position locking mechanism, the grip handle is movable from a stowed orientation and an in-use orientation such that in the in-use orientation the grip handle is positioned such that an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body structure, comprising:
a cargo area structure having a floor, a first side wall and a tailgate at least partially defining a cargo area, the tailgate being movable between an open orientation exposing a rear end of the cargo area and a closed orientation blocking the rear end of the cargo area;
a retractable step installed to the cargo area structure beneath the floor and the first side wall and adjacent to the tailgate; and
a handle assembly having a base and a grip handle supported to the base, the base being attached to an upright surface of the first side wall, the base having a position locking mechanism configured such that in response to manual operation of the position locking mechanism the grip handle is movable from a stowed orientation and an in-use orientation such that in the in-use orientation the grip handle is positioned such that an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first side wall includes a utility track configured to receive and support cargo area accessories, the utility track being rigidly and fixedly attached to the first side wall at a location below and adjacent to the upper surface of the first side wall, the utility track defining the upright surface of the first side wall.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the base of the handle assembly is directly attached to the utility track via mechanical fasteners such that the base overlays a portion of the upright surface of the utility track.

4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the utility track is an elongated member that includes a track portion having spaced apart lengthwise extending walls that define a pair of projections with an opening between the projections that are open to an elongated hollow channel within the utility track, the track portion of the utility track being located above the upright surface of the utility track.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the base of the handle assembly includes an attachment assembly configured to clamp to the pair of projections of the track portion of the utility track.

6. The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the attachment assembly includes a clamping member and a threaded member such that with the handle assembly attached to the utility track, the clamping member is located within the elongated hollow channel and the threaded member threadedly forces the clamping member and the base together clamping to the lengthwise extending walls.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 6 , wherein
the base of the handle assembly includes a block member and a pivoting member configured to pivot about the block member, and
the position locking mechanism is installed to the pivoting member, and the grip handle is installed to the pivoting member for pivoting movement therewith.

8. The vehicle body structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the position locking mechanism is configured such that in a locking orientation the pivoting member and the grip handle are prevented from pivoting about the block member, and in an unlocked orientation the pivoting member and the grip handle are free to pivot about the block member between the stowed orientation and the in-use orientation.

9. The vehicle body structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the position locking mechanism includes a spring biased pin that is urged to the locking orientation.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the grip handle of the handle assembly when in the stowed orientation extends horizontally in a direction parallel to the first side wall.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 10 , wherein
the grip handle of the handle assembly when in the in-use orientation extends in an upright direction.

12. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the grip handle of the handle assembly when in the in-use orientation extends in a horizontal direction parallel to the first side wall and when in the stowed orientation extends in the horizontal direction parallel to the first side wall.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12 , wherein
the base of the handle assembly is configured such that the grip handle is slidably movable between the stowed orientation and the in-use orientation.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the position locking mechanism includes a spring biased pin that is manually pressed to an unlocked orientation and spring biased to return to a locked orientation such that in the locking orientation the grip handle is prevented from sliding relative to the base member, and in an unlocked orientation the grip handle is free to slide relative the base between the stowed orientation and the in-use orientation.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the retractable step is moveable between a retracted orientation in which the step is partially concealed below the floor and the first side wall, and an extended orientation in which the step extends rearward and outboard away relative to the cargo area.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Patterson Ian
• Petersen Martin

Classifications

• B60N3/026

  characterised by the fixing means (B60N3/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N3/023 Primary

  movable · CPC title

• B60R3/02 Primary

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