Vehicle deployable front step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9739078-B2
Application number	US-201615195427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

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 a 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

What is claimed is:

1. 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 being disposed proximate a front portion of the vehicle and, in response to a a first actuation of the hood release, the hood is released from a closed position to an open position, 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 and configured to, in response to the first actuation of the hood release, translate the step member, via the arm, from a stowed position to a deployed position, and, in response to a second actuation of the hood release, translate the step member, via the arm, from the deployed position to the stowed position.

2. A hood release comprising:
a hood connected to a latch having a release; and
a step assembly including an arm connected to a motor and the latch such that, in response to a first actuation of the release that moves the hood from a closed position to an open position, the step assembly, via the arm, moves between stowed and deployed positions.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• 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