Vehicle step system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9434317-B2
Application number	US-201414540553-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle step system and method incorporating an end of a vehicle bumper. The step system includes an end of the bumper movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position. When placed in the second, open position the end of the bumper includes a step surface. One example of the vehicle step system and method includes positioning the step surface below the top of the bumper. The end of the bumper may be pivotally connected at the bottom wherein an actuator operates to move the end of the bumper between the first, closed position and the second, open position. In an additional example, a latch operates to prevent movement of the end of the bumper.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle step system comprising:
a bumper having an end, said end having a top side, a bottom side and a rear face extending therebetween;
said end of said bumper pivoting downward about an axis transverse a longitudinal axis of said bumper and movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position; and
said second, open position having a step surface.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bumper includes a top; and
in said second, open position, said step surface is positioned below said top of said bumper.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a latch.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bumper includes a bottom; and
said end pivotally connected to said bumper at said bottom.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 including an actuator, said actuator connected to said end and operative to move said end between said first closed, position and said second, open position.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a lever arm, said lever arm connected to said end and to an actuator.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuator includes a rod; and
a pivot pin, said pivot pin pivotally connecting said rod to said lever arm.

8. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch assembly includes a latch member;
said end of said bumper having a detent member; and
said latch member operative to capture said detent member to hold said end of said bumper in said first, closed position.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said latch includes a release, said release including a retainer, said retainer engaging said latch member; and
a button, said button connected to and operative to move said retainer thereby releasing said latch member and allowing said end of said bumper to move to said second, open position.

10. A vehicle step system comprising:
a bumper having an end,
said end of said bumper movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position;
said second, open position having a step surface;
a lever arm, said lever arm connected to said end and to an actuator, said actuator includes a rod;
a pivot pin, said pivot pin pivotally connecting said rod to said lever arm; and
a latch assembly, said latch assembly cooperating with said pivot pin to secure said end in said first, closed position.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lever arm includes an elongated slot having a first end and a second end, said pivot pin disposed in said elongated slot;
a latch member, said latch operative to prevent movement of said lever arm when said pivot pin is disposed in said elongated slot adjacent said first end of said elongated slot.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 including a spring, said spring coupled to said pivot pin and operative to draw said pivot pin towards said second end of said elongated slot.

13. A vehicle step system comprising:
a bumper having a top surface and a rear face and having an end, said end having a top surface and a rear face;
said end of said bumper pivoting downward about an axis transverse a longitudinal axis of said bumper and movable between a first, closed position wherein said top surface of said bumper and said top surface of said end are adjacent and coplanar and a second, open position wherein said top surface of said end is spaced from and extends transverse said top surface of said bumper and said rear face of said bumper and rear face of said end remain coplanar, said second, open position having a step surface;
an actuator, said actuator connected to said end of said bumper and operative to move said end of said bumper between said first closed, position and said second, open position.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 including a latch securing said end of said bumper in said second, closed position.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 including a lever arm attached to said actuator and to said end of said bumper.

16. A method for forming a step for a vehicle comprising:
providing a bumper, having a top surface, connected to said vehicle; and
downwardly pivoting an end of said bumper about an axis transverse a longitudinal axis of said bumper and moving said end of said bumper to an open position, whereby said top surface of said end extends transverse to the top surface of the bumper, thereby exposing a step surface, said step surface positioned below a top of said bumper.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of pivotally attaching said end of said bumper to the bumper.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of using an actuator to move the end of said bumper to the open position, the actuator connected to the end of said bumper and to the bumper.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16 including a latch, and the step of releasing the latch prior to moving the end of the bumper to the open position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nania Adrian

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

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

• B60R19/48

  combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds · CPC title