Vehicle Deployable Front Step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016243992-A1
Application number	US-201514625685-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle and a hood release system are provided. The vehicle may include a hood release lever disposed within a vehicle cabin connected to a hood latch assembly and a step assembly disposed within a front portion of the vehicle. The hood release lever may be configured to release the step assembly from a stowed to a deployed position in coordination with releasing the hood latch from primary latching position to a secondary latching position. The step assembly may be configured to release the hood latch from the secondary latching position to allow the hood to fully open.

First claim

1 . A vehicle comprising:
a latch assembly connected to the vehicle having a primary and a secondary latch configured to maintain a hood in primary and secondary closed positions, respectively; a step assembly disposed within a front portion of the vehicle, the step assembly having a stowed and a deployed position; and a hood release disposed within a vehicle cabin configured to release the primary latch and deploy the step assembly.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the step assembly includes:
a step member;
a first member having a first end connected to the step member and a second end spaced apart from the first end and an elongate body extending therebetween; and
a second member connected to the front portion of the vehicle, the second member defining an interior chamber, the interior chamber configured to receive the second end along a longitudinal axis of the second member, wherein the first member is configured to translate the step member relative to the second member.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 further comprising a locking mechanism operatively connected with the latch assembly and the step assembly, the locking mechanism configured to inhibit movement of the step assembly away from the stowed position while the step assembly is in the stowed position.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to inhibit movement of the step assembly away from the deployed position while the step assembly is in the deployed position.

5 . The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the step assembly further includes a biasing member received within the interior chamber of the second member, wherein the biasing member is configured to urge the step member away from the stowed position responsive to actuation of the hood release.

6 . The vehicle of claim 3 further comprising a tension member extending between the locking mechanism and the latch assembly, wherein in response to a downward force applied to the step member, the step assembly pivots about a pivot axis to actuate the latch assembly, via the tension member, to release the secondary latch.

7 . A hood release system comprising:
a hood release operatively coupled to a hood latch assembly configured to releasably latch a vehicle hood; and a step member pivotally mounted to a front portion of a vehicle, the step member operatively coupled to the hood latch assembly, wherein in response to actuation of the hood release, the step member pivots from a stowed position to a deployed position.

8 . The hood release system of claim 7 further comprising a latching mechanism operatively connected to the hood release, the latching mechanism configured to retain the step member in the stowed position.

9 . The hood release system of claim 7 wherein the hood latch assembly includes:
a primary latch operatively coupled to the hood release, the primary latch configured to inhibit movement of the vehicle hood away from a primary closed position to a secondary closed position when engaged with the vehicle hood; and
a secondary latch operatively coupled to the step member, the secondary latch configured to inhibit movement of the vehicle hood away from the secondary closed position to an open position when the primary latch is disengaged from the vehicle hood responsive to actuation of the hood release.

10 . The hood release system of claim 9 wherein in response to a downward force applied to the step member while in the deployed position, the step member is configured to pivot about a pivot mount to release the secondary latch.

11 . The hood release system of claim 10 further comprising a stopper disposed proximate the pivot mount, wherein the stopper is configured to engage the step member to inhibit further pivotal movement of the step member.

12 . A hood release system comprising:
a hood releasably connected to a vehicle via a latch assembly; a hood release connected to the latch assembly; and a step assembly connected to the vehicle and the latch assembly, the step assembly disposed proximate a front portion of the vehicle, wherein in response to a downward force applied to the step assembly, the hood is released from a closed position to an open position.

13 . The hood release system of claim 12 wherein the step assembly includes:
a step member;
an arm connected to the step member and operatively connected proximate the front portion of the vehicle; and
an electric motor drivably connected to the arm.

14 . The hood release system of claim 13 wherein in response to a first actuation of the hood release, the electric motor is configured to translate the step member, via the arm, from a stowed position to a deployed position.

15 . The hood release system of claim 14 wherein in response to a second actuation of the hood release, the electric motor is configured to translate the step member, via the arm, from the deployed position to the stowed position.

16 . The hood release system of claim 15 further comprising a sensor disposed proximate the latch assembly configured to provide data indicative of a position of the hood.

17 . The hood release system of claim 16 wherein in response to data indicative of the hood moved from the open position to the closed position, the electric motor translates the step member, via the arm, from a deployed position to a stowed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Diehl Cary Ochen
• Preston Nadia
• Harlow Julee
• Milke Scott

Classifications

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• B60R3/02 Primary

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

• E05C3/16 Primary

  with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the latch {(E05C3/122 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B83/24

  for car bonnets · CPC title