Retractable power step remote drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11919481-B2
Application number	US-202017426396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2020
Priority date	Apr 9, 2019
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

The present invention includes a foldable step assembly for a vehicle. The step assembly includes a linkage arrangement for connection to a vehicle and articulating a step assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position. A drive mechanism is positioned remotely from the step assembly and is operatively in communication with the linkage arrangement for articulating said step assembly between the deployed position to the stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable step assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a base connectable to a vehicle;
a linkage connected to the base, the linkage is further connected to a step that is moved by the linkage between a deployed position to a stowed position;
a motor having an output shaft positioned at a spatial distance from the base of the linkage;
a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the linkage for transferring force across the spatial distance from the output shaft to the linkage for articulating the linkage and the step between an extended position and retracted position;
a transmission connected to the base, the transmission includes a worm gear drivingly engaged to the linkage, wherein the drive mechanism includes a torque transfer shaft connected to the output shaft of the motor and the worm gear so that rotation of the torque transfer shaft rotates the worm gear;
a first male connector on the torque transfer shaft that is received by a first female connector on the output shaft of the motor; and
a second male connector connected to the worm gear that is received by a second female connector formed on the second end of the torque transfer shaft.

2. The foldable step assembly of claim 1 further comprises a drive shaft of the linkage connected to a gear located within the transmission, wherein the gear is in mesh engagement with the worm gear and rotation of the worm gear rotates the gear and drive shaft.

3. The foldable step assembly of claim 2 wherein the spatial distance is equal to the length of the drive shaft.

4. A foldable step assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a base connectable to a vehicle;
a linkage connected to the base, the linkage is further connected to a step that is moved by the linkage between a deployed position to a stowed position;
a motor having an output shaft positioned at a spatial distance from the base of the linkage; and
a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the linkage for transferring force across the spatial distance from the output shaft to the linkage for articulating the linkage and the step between an extended position and retracted position;
a transmission connected to the base, the transmission includes a worm gear drivingly engaged to the linkage, wherein the drive mechanism includes a cable casing with a flex shaft core slidable in the cable casing, wherein the cable casing connects to both the output shaft of the motor and the worm gear and rotation of the flex shaft core rotates the worm gear;
a first square end on a first end of the cable core and a second square end on a second end of the cable core;
a first female connector connected to the output shaft of the motor, wherein the first square end of the cable core is received by the first female connector, and
a second female connector connected to the worm gear of the transmission, wherein the second square end of the cable core is received by the second female connector.

5. The foldable step assembly of claim 4 wherein the spatial distance is equal to the length of the cable core.

6. A foldable step assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a base connectable to a vehicle;
a linkage connected to the base, the linkage is further connected to a step that is moved by the linkage between a deployed position to a stowed position;
a motor having an output shaft positioned at a spatial distance from the base of the linkage;
a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the linkage for transferring force across the spatial distance from the output shaft to the linkage for articulating the linkage and the step between an extended position and retracted position;
a transmission connected to the base;
a drive housing connected to the motor and having a gear with teeth connected to and rotatably driven by the motor;
a cable casing connected between the transmission and the drive housing;
a cable core slidably positioned in the cable casing, wherein the cable core has features on the surface capable of meshing with the gear in the drive housing so that rotation of the gear in the drive housing moves slides the cable core in the cable casing, wherein one end of the cable core is located in the transmission and slides in the transmission in response to rotation of the gear in the drive housing, and
a drive link connected to the drive shaft of the linkage, the drive link is located in the transmission and is operatively connected to the end of the cable core so that when the cable core slides in the transmission the drive link rotates the drive shaft of the linkage.

7. The foldable step assembly of claim 6 wherein the cable core includes an inner core with a helical wire wound on the inner core to form the features on the cable core.

8. The foldable step assembly of claim 6 wherein the spatial distance is equal to the length of the cable casing.

9. The foldable step assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
a lug formed on the end of the cable core located in the transmission;
a trunnion connected to the lug;
a link connected to the trunnion and the drive link, wherein the lug, trunnion and link are slidable in a bore of the transmission and more the drive link to rotate the drive shaft.

10. The foldable step assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a follower link connected to the step.

11. A foldable step assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a base connectable to a vehicle;
a linkage connected to the base, the linkage is further connected to a step that is moved by the linkage between a deployed position to a stowed position;
a motor having an output shaft positioned at a spatial distance from the base of the linkage;
a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the linkage for transferring force across the spatial distance from the output shaft to the linkage for articulating the linkage and the step between an extended position and retracted position,
a transmission connected to the base, the transmission includes a worm gear drivingly engaged to the linkage, wherein the drive mechanism includes a cable casing with a flex shaft core slidable in the cable casing, wherein the cable casing connects to both the output shaft of the motor and the worm gear and rotation of the flex shaft core rotates the worm gear, wherein the spatial distance is equal to the length of the cable casing;
a drive shaft of the linkage connected to a gear located within the transmission, wherein the gear is in mesh engagement with the worm gear and rotation of the worm gear rotates the gear and the drive shaft;
a first square end on a first end of the cable core and a second square end on a second end of the cable core;
a first female connector connected to the output shaft of the motor, wherein the first square end of the cable core is received by the first female connector; and
a second female connector connected to the worm gear of the transmission, wherein the second square end of the cable core is received by the second female connector.

12. A foldable step assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a base connectable to a vehicle;
a linkage connected to the base, the linkage is further connected to a step that is moved by the linkage between a deployed position to a stowed position;
a motor having an output shaft positioned at a spatial distance from the base of the linkage;
a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the linkage for transferring force across the spatial distance from the output shaft to the linkage for articulating the linkage and the step between an extended position and retracted position,
a transmission connected to the base, the transmission includes a worm gear drivingly engaged to the linkage, wherein the

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Watson Bradley E

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

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

• B60R3/002

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

• F16H1/16

  comprising worm and worm-wheel · CPC title

• F16H21/12

  for conveying rotary motion · CPC title