Step device for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11731561-B2
Application number	US-202017012414-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Sep 9, 2019
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A step device for a vehicle includes a movable step supported under a door opening, and a coupling member supported by a sliding door that opens and closes in a vehicle front-rear direction with a shifting zone in a vehicle width direction. The movable step is provided with a guide rail that opens downward and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. The coupling member includes: a fixed member fixed to the sliding door; an arm member coupled to the fixed member; a guide roller disposed inside the guide rail; and an urging member configured to apply to the arm member an urging force in a direction in which the guide roller turns upward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A step device for a vehicle, the step device comprising:
a movable step supported under a door opening; and
a coupling member supported by a sliding door that opens and closes in a vehicle front-rear direction with a shifting zone in a vehicle width direction, the coupling member being configured to engage with the movable step to move the movable step in the vehicle width direction in conjunction with opening and closing of the sliding door, wherein:
the movable step is provided with a guide rail that opens downward and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction;
the coupling member includes
a fixed member fixed to the sliding door,
an arm member configured to turn in an up-down direction and coupled to the fixed member,
a guide roller supported by the arm member and disposed inside the guide rail, and
an urging member configured to apply to the arm member an urging force in a direction in which the guide roller turns upward;

the guide rail includes a side wall with which the guide roller comes into sliding contact, and a fall prevention flange provided on a lower end side of the side wall; and
the guide rail has a notch that is formed by cutting out a portion of the fall prevention flange and that allows the guide roller to move in the up-down direction beyond the fall prevention flange.

2. The step device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the guide rail has the notch provided at a longitudinal end portion at which the guide roller is located when the sliding door is fully opened.

3. The step device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the guide rail has a plurality of notches provided apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

4. A step device for a vehicle, the step device comprising:
a movable step supported under a door opening; and
a coupling member supported by a sliding door that opens and closes in a vehicle front-rear direction with a shifting zone in a vehicle width direction, the coupling member being configured to engage with the movable step to move the movable step in the vehicle width direction in conjunction with opening and closing of the sliding door, wherein:
the movable step is provided with a guide rail that opens downward and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction;
the coupling member includes
a fixed member fixed to the sliding door,
an arm member configured to turn in an up-down direction and coupled to the fixed member,
a guide roller supported by the arm member and disposed inside the guide rail, and
an urging member configured to apply to the arm member an urging force in a direction in which the guide roller turns upward; and

the step device includes a retaining member that retains the movable step in a retracted position on an inner side in the vehicle width direction by engaging with the movable step when the guide roller is separated from the guide rail.

Assignees

• Aisin Corp
• Toyota Auto Body Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oji Yoshihiro
• Nomura Keisuke
• Kazama Shinji
• Hibi Kazuhiro
• Ikeda Kazuhiro

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

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

• B60J5/06

  slidable; foldable · CPC title

• B60R3/007 Primary

  Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable (as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005) · CPC title