Vehicle cargo bed systems including a stair assembly, a load stop, or both

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023382306-A1
Application number	US-202318188610-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2023
Priority date	May 25, 2022
Publication date	Nov 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cargo bed system includes a stair assembly that is movable between a stowed position and a staircase position relative to a vehicle structure. The stair assembly includes first and second support arm assemblies and first and a second steps. The first and second steps are configured to pivot together.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cargo bed system, comprising:
a stair assembly movable between a stowed position and a staircase position relative to a vehicle structure; first and second support arm assemblies of the stair assembly; and first and a second steps of the stair assembly, the first and second steps configured to pivot together.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stair assembly is stowed within the vehicle structure when in the stowed position, wherein the stair assembly is extended from the vehicle structure and pivoted downward from the vehicle structure when in the staircase position.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, when moved from the stowed position to the staircase position, the stair assembly is configured to translate horizontally from the stowed position to an extended position where the stair assembly is extended relative to the vehicle structure, and then pivot relative to the vehicle structure from the extended position to the staircase position.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first step and the second steps pivot together relative to the first and second support arm assemblies when the stair assembly pivots relative to the vehicle structure from the extended position to the staircase position.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second steps are pivotably coupled together.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second support arm assemblies each include two bars of a four-bar linkage that pivotably couples together the first and second steps.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the four-bar linkage telescopes relative to respective fixed rails of the support arm assemblies when the stair assembly is transition from the stowed position to an extended position, wherein the four-bar linkage pivots relative to the respective fixed rails when the stair assembly is pivoted from the extended position to the staircase position.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the support arm assemblies each include a fixed rail that slidably receives aa plurality of bars of a four-bar linkage assembly.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle structure is a tailgate of a vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the stair assembly extends rearward relative to an orientation of the vehicle when moving from the stowed position within the tailgate.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the stair assembly moves laterally outward relative to an orientation of the vehicle when moving from the stowed position within the tailgate.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second steps each include a stepping surface, the first and second steps pivoting to keep the respective stepping surfaces facing vertically upward when the stair assembly is transitioned between the stowed position and the stepping position.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first step is spaced vertically from the second step when the stepping assembly is in the staircase position.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lift assist that damps movement of the stair assembly from the staircase position to the extended position, assists movement of the stair assembly from the staircase position to an extended position, or both.

15 . A method of transitioning a stair assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
extending a stair assembly from a stowed position within a vehicle structure to an extended position relative to the vehicle structure; lowering the stair assembly from the extended position to a staircase position by pivoting rail assemblies of the stair assembly relative to the vehicle structure; and during the lowering, rotating the rail assemblies relative to at least one step of the stair assembly.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one step includes an upper step and a lower step.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the upper step and the lower step are rotatably coupled together.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle structure is a vehicle tailgate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Brick William Charles
• Azzouz Michael M
• Nydam Scott
• Meyer Jay John

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

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

• B62D33/0273

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title