Back to results
US 11,987,209 B2Granted
Deployable step systems for accessing cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly that includes a door subassembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDavid Brian Glickman, Stuart C. Salter, Dennis Yee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Deployable step systems for accessing vehicle cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly having a door subassembly may include a bumper integrated step pad that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the step pad establishes a portion of the bumper, and in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lowered relative to the bumper.
Claims17
A vehicle, comprising:
- a hitch tube;
- a bumper at least partially supported by the hitch tube;
- and
- a deployable step system mounted to the hitch tube and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bumper,
- wherein, in the stowed position, a step pad of the deployable step system establishes a top surface of the bumper,
- wherein, in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lower than the bumper,
- wherein the step pad includes an upper outer surface that establishes the top surface in the stowed position, and further wherein the top surface is an upper step surface of the bumper.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- moving a deployable step system of a vehicle between a stowed position and a deployed position,
- wherein, in the stowed position, a step pad of the deployable step system establishes a top surface of a bumper of the vehicle,
- wherein, in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lower than the bumper,
- wherein moving the deployable step system includes:
- moving the deployable step system from the stowed position to a first partially deployed position,
- wherein moving the deployable step system from the stowed position to the first partially deployed position includes:
- moving an extension tube in a rearward direction relative to a cross tube of the deployable step system to position the step pad rearward of the bumper.
4 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a hitch tube;
- a bumper at least partially supported by the hitch tube;
- and
- a deployable step system mounted to the hitch tube and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bumper,
- wherein, in the stowed position, a step pad of the deployable step system establishes a portion of the bumper,
- wherein, in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lower than the bumper,
- wherein the deployable step system includes a cross tube mounted directly to the hitch tube, an extension tube movably received within a passageway established by the cross tube, and a deployment tube pivotably connected to the extension tube.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.