Lateral access limitation system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694776-B2
Application number	US-201615228967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2016
Priority date	Aug 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A lateral access limitation system for a vehicle includes a first structural member configured to be coupled to a side portion of the vehicle, a second structural member including a first end and an opposing second end, the first end and the opposing second end of the second structural member releasably coupled to the first structural member, and a third structural member coupled to the second structural member. The third structural member is positioned to prevent unintended access to a protected region. The second structural member and the third structural member are configured to selectively pivot about both the first end and the opposing second end of the second structural member to facilitate accessing the protected region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lateral access limitation system for a vehicle, the lateral access limitation system comprising:
a first structural member configured to be coupled to a side portion of the vehicle, the first structural member including a pair of sidewalls spaced apart such that the pair of sidewalls define a U-channel;
a second structural member including a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end and the opposing second end of the second structural member are releasably coupled to the first structural member such that the second structural member is selectively received by and disposed within the U-channel; and
a third structural member coupled to the second structural member, wherein the third structural member is positioned to prevent unintended access to a protected region;
wherein the second structural member and the third structural member are configured to selectively pivot about both the first end and the opposing second end of the second structural member to facilitate accessing the protected region.

2. The lateral access limitation system of claim 1 , wherein an end of the first structural member defines a first through-hole.

3. The lateral access limitation system of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the second structural member defines a second through-hole positioned to correspond with the first through-hole of the first structural member.

4. The lateral access limitation system of claim 3 , further comprising a first fastener configured to be selectively received by the first through-hole and the second through-hole to thereby pivotally and releasably couple the first end of the second structural member to the first structural member.

5. The lateral access limitation system of claim 4 , wherein an opposing end of the first structural member defines a third through-hole.

6. The lateral access limitation system of claim 5 , wherein the opposing second end of the second structural member defines a fourth through-hole positioned to correspond with the third through-hole of the first structural member.

7. The lateral access limitation system of claim 6 , further comprising a second fastener configured to be selectively received by the third through-hole and the fourth through-hole to thereby pivotally and releasably couple the opposing second end of the second structural member to the first structural member.

8. The lateral access limitation system of claim 1 , wherein the third structural member is slidably coupled to the second structural member and selectively repositionable along a longitudinal length of the vehicle relative to the first structural member and the second structural member.

9. The lateral access limitation system of claim 1 , wherein the third structural member includes a plurality of elements spaced between the first end and the opposing second end of the second structural member.

10. The lateral access limitation system of claim 1 , further comprising a deflector positioned to cover a leading edge of the third structural member, the deflector extending at least partially along a longitudinal length of the third structural member.

11. A lateral access limitation system for a vehicle, the lateral access limitation system comprising:
a bracket configured to be coupled to at least one of a chassis and a body of the vehicle;
a leg configured to interface with the bracket;
a rail positioned to prevent unintended access to a protected region, the rail having a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of interfacing walls that cooperatively define a channel; and
a coupler including a plate and a fastener, the plate positioned to be received within the channel of the rail to slidably couple the rail to the leg such that the rail is selectively repositionable along a longitudinal length of the vehicle relative to the leg and the bracket,
wherein the leg and the rail are selectively repositionable relative to the bracket between a first angled orientation, a second angled orientation, and an access limitation orientation.

12. The lateral access limitation system of claim 11 , wherein the pair of interfacing walls are spaced a distance apart and thereby define a gap, wherein the fastener is positioned to extend from the leg, through the gap, and engage the plate such that the pair of interfacing walls are secured between the leg and the plate.

13. The lateral access limitation system of claim 11 , wherein the rail includes a plurality of elements spaced between an upper end and a lower end of the leg, and wherein the coupler includes a plurality of couplers that correspond with the plurality of elements.

14. The lateral access limitation system of claim 11 , wherein the leg is releasably coupled to the bracket at a lower end and an upper end thereof such that the leg and the rail are configured to pivot about the lower end and the upper end of the leg to facilitate accessing the protected region of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a body coupled to the chassis; and
a vehicle access limitation system positioned to prevent unintended access to a protected region of the vehicle, the vehicle access limitation system including:
a bracket coupled to at least one of the chassis and the body of the vehicle;
a leg having a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end and the upper end of the leg are releasably and pivotally coupled to the bracket;
a rail having a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of interfacing walls that cooperatively define a channel; and
a coupler including a plate and a fastener, the plate positioned to be received within the channel of the rail to slidably couple the rail to the leg such that the rail is selectively repositionable along a longitudinal length of the vehicle relative to the leg and the bracket;
wherein the leg and the rail are configured to selectively pivot relative to the bracket downward and upward about the lower end and the upper end of the leg to thereby provide access to the protected region.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Nelson Joseph D
• Meyers Troy L
• Deinema Matthew P

Classifications

• B60R19/565 Primary

  on vehicle sides · CPC title