Retractable vehicle step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022332254-A1
Application number	US-202217721285-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2022
Priority date	Apr 16, 2021
Publication date	Oct 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A retractable vehicle step includes: a stepping member configured for movement between retracted and extended positions; a first arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the stepping member; a mount pivotally connected to the second end and configured to secure to a vehicle, the mount having a housing including an interior to receive a portion of the first arm, the housing having a height, a length, a first axis extending along the height, and a second axis extending along the length and perpendicular to the first axis; and a biasing member in the interior, the biasing member coupled with the second end of the first arm and configured to apply a biasing force to the first arm, the biasing force applied at a first angle with respect to said second axis that is less then approximately 30°.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A retractable vehicle step configured for use with a vehicle, the retractable vehicle step comprising:
a stepping member configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the stepping member comprises a stepping surface configured to provide support for a user; a step bracket coupled to the stepping member; an outer arm and an inner arm, each of the outer and inner arms having a first end coupled to the step bracket and a second end opposite the first end, said inner arm positioned farther from the stepping member than said outer arm; a mount configured to secure to a portion of the vehicle, the mount comprising an interior, wherein the second ends of the outer and inner arms are pivotally connected to the mount within said interior, and wherein the mount comprises a height and a length, said height being less than said length; a spring coupler pivotally connected at the second end of the inner arm; a spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring engaging the spring coupler and the second end of the spring positioned around a protrusion extending from a portion of the mount, wherein the spring is positioned within said interior of the mount and is substantially aligned with a mounting plane of said mount that is configured to be positioned adjacent said portion of the vehicle, the spring configured to apply a biasing force to said inner arm via the spring coupler, and wherein said protrusion is configured to inhibit movement of the second end of the spring within the interior of the mount.

2 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 1 , wherein said mount comprises:
a housing, the housing comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the housing configured to face away from the vehicle when the retractable vehicle step is secured to the vehicle, said length of the mount extending between the first and second ends of the housing; an opening extending through a portion of the housing at the second end of the housing, said opening configured to allow the spring to be inserted into the interior during assembly; and a plate configured to secure to the second end of the housing and enclose the opening, said protrusion extending transverse from said plate.

3 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , wherein said protrusion comprises a cylindrical shape corresponding to an internal size of the spring.

4 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of holes extending through said portion of the housing at the second end and adjacent to said opening, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of holes configured to align with said plurality of holes of the housing when the plate is secured to the housing, and wherein the retractable vehicle step further comprises a plurality of fasteners configured to extend through the plurality of holes in the housing and the plate to secure the plate to the housing.

5 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , wherein said second end of the housing comprises a recessed portion sized and shaped to receive the plate.

6 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 5 , wherein said opening is positioned in said recessed portion.

7 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , wherein an inner surface of plate is recessed around said protrusion and is configured to receive the second end of the spring.

8 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , further comprising a pair of walls extending inward from said portion of the housing at the second end of the housing, said pair of walls positioned opposite and parallel to one another about said opening, wherein at least the second end of the spring is positioned between said pair of walls.

9 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 2 , wherein a portion of an inner surface of the housing is recessed to accommodate a portion of the spring.

10 . A retractable vehicle step configured for use with a vehicle, the retractable vehicle step comprising:
a stepping member configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the stepping member comprises a stepping surface configured to provide support for a user; a first arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is coupled to the stepping member; a mount, the mount pivotally connected to the second end of the first arm and configured to secure to a portion of the vehicle, wherein the mount comprises a housing defining an interior configured to receive a portion of the first arm, wherein the housing comprises a height, a length, a first axis extending along the height, and a second axis extending along the length and perpendicular to said first axis; and a biasing member positioned within the interior of the housing of the mount, the biasing member coupled with the second end of the first arm and configured to apply a biasing force to the first arm, said biasing force applied at a first angle with respect to said second axis, wherein said first angle is less then approximately 30°.

11 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein said housing further comprises a width, and wherein said height is smaller than both of the width and the length.

12 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein said first angle is less then approximately 15°.

13 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein said housing of said mount further comprises:
a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end configured to face away from the vehicle when the retractable vehicle step is secured to the vehicle, the length of the housing extending between the first and second ends of the housing; an opening at the second end of the housing, said opening configured to allow the biasing member to be inserted into the interior during assembly; a plate configured to secure to the second end of the housing and enclose the opening, wherein the plate is further configured to engage a first end of the biasing member and inhibit movement of the first end of the biasing member along a first direction and a second direction, said first direction parallel to the first axis extending along the height of the housing and said second direction parallel to a third axis extending along a length of the housing, said third axis perpendicular to said first and second axes.

14 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , further comprising a second arm, said second arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second arm, wherein the first end of the second arm is coupled to the stepping member, and wherein the mount is pivotally connected to the second end of the second arm.

15 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein the retractable vehicle step does not include any other biasing member.

16 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein the retractable vehicle step does not include a biasing member oriented in a direction that is less than approximately 30° with respect to the first axis.

17 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , wherein said biasing member comprises a spring.

18 . The retractable vehicle step of claim 10 , further comprising a spring coupler configured to engage an end of the biasing member and configured to connect the biasing member to the second end of the first arm.

19 . A retractable vehicle step configured for use with a vehicle, the retractable vehicle step comprising:
a stepping member configu

Assignees

• Lund Motion Products Inc

Inventors

• Smith Anthony

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

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