# US 10,307,946 B2 · Method of making side step for vehicle

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- Number: US 10,307,946 B2
- Document ID: US10307946B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/152,735
- Filed: 2016-05-12
- Published: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-02
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; LG Hausys, Ltd.
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; LG Hausys, Ltd.
- Inventors: Seung Mok Lee; Kwang Jae Choi; Nam Cheol Kim; Seung Ryong Jeong; Sung Jun Hong; Woo Jin Jung; Chun Ho Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307946B2

## CPC

- B29C 45/14: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C45/1671 takes precedence)}
- B29C 45/14336: {Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article (B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence)}
- B29C 45/14565: {at spaced locations, e.g. coaxial-cable wires}
- B60R 3/002: {Running boards (for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02)}
- B29K 2023/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene}
- B29K 2105/12: of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
- B29K 2307/04: Carbon
- B29K 2309/08: Glass
- B60Y 2304/03: Reducing weight
- B60Y 2304/05: Reducing production costs, e.g. by redesign
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A method of making a side step of a vehicle includes a bracket that is mounted to a vehicle body and an insert main body that bears weight of passengers. The bracket and the insert main body are integrally provided by using a CFT material through insert-molding, and an injection molding resin is coupled to all over the insert main body where the bracket is coupled through insert-molding so as to form a main frame of the side step.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a side step for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
injection-molding at least one bracket using a continuous fiber thermoplastic (CFT) material, the bracket being mounted to a vehicle body and an insert main body that is integrally coupled to the bracket;
insert-molding a main frame by injecting an injection molding resin over the insert main body that is coupled to the bracket; and
manufacturing a side step by assembling a step cover and a step plate with the main frame, wherein the step of manufacturing the side step further comprises:
seating the step cover on the main frame;
seating the step plate on the step cover; and
integrally assembling the main frame, the step cover, and the step plate using a locking mechanism that is integrally provided in the step plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of injection-molding the bracket further comprises:
layering at least two heated CFT materials after primarily heating the CFT materials to a predetermined temperature; and
molding the layered CFT materials after secondarily heating the layered CFT materials to a predetermined temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of insert-molding the main frame further comprises:
disposing the bracket in a mold while spacing the bracket from an adjacent bracket at a predetermined interval; and
injection-molding the CFT material for allowing the insert main body to be integrally coupled to the bracket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the bracket and the insert main body are made of a same material so that the bracket and the insert main body are integrally coupled to each other through adhesion between material surfaces thereof caused by high temperature during the injection-molding step.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein when the injection molding resin is injected to the insert main body during the insert-molding step, a support injection molding resin is integrally molded to each of opposite longitudinal ends of the insert main body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the insert main body comprises about 30 to 50% by weight of polypropylene (PP), and about 50 to 70% by weight of glass fiber (GF).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the insert main body comprises about 40% by weight of polypropylene (PP) and about 60% by weight of glass fiber (GF).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the insert main body is provided with a section having a successive convex-concave shape to improve rigidity thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the injection molding resin comprises about 50 to 70% by weight of polypropylene (PP), and about 30 to 50% by weight of long glass fiber (LGF).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the injection molding resin comprises about 60% by weight of polypropylene (PP) and about 40% by weight of long glass fiber (LGF).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the main frame is provided with ribs along a longitudinal direction of the main frame to improve rigidity thereof during the insert-molding the main frame by injecting the injection molding resin, the ribs being spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.