US 12,365,298 B2Granted

Rock rail assembly

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsStuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Dennis Yee, Aaron Peter Klop, Satvinder Singh Matharu

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Abstract

A rock rail assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting structure, an arm mounted to the mounting structure, a motor bracket coupled to the mounting structure, a motor mounted to the motor bracket, a pivot bar pivotably coupled with the mounting structure, a rail coupled with the pivot bar and operable to move between stowed and deployed positions, and a sector gear coupled to the pivot bar. The motor has a shaft that includes a first end, a second end, and a worm gear portion. Operation of the motor drives rotation of the shaft. The sector gear is operably engaged with the worm gear portion of the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft by the motor drives pivotal movement of the pivot bar relative to the mounting structure, causing movement of the rail coupled thereto between the stowed and deployed positions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rock rail assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be mounted to an underside of the vehicle;
an arm mounted to the mounting structure and defining a receiving hollow;
a motor bracket coupled to the mounting structure;
a motor mounted to the motor bracket and having a shaft that includes a first end that is engaged with a rotor of the motor, a second end that is distal from the first end and rotatably received within the receiving hollow defined by the arm, and a worm gear portion disposed between the first and second ends, wherein operation of the motor drives rotation of the shaft;
a pivot bar pivotably coupled with the mounting structure;
a rail coupled with the pivot bar and operable to move between a stowed position and a deployed position via pivotal movement of the pivot bar relative to the mounting structure;
and
a sector gear coupled to the pivot bar and operably engaged with the worm gear portion of the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft by the motor drives pivotal movement of the pivot bar relative to the mounting structure, causing movement of the rail coupled thereto between the stowed position, wherein the sector gear abuts the motor bracket, and the deployed position, wherein the sector gear abuts the arm.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/060,294Filed 30 Nov 2022
Published: US 2024/0174191 A130 May 2024
Granted: 22 Jul 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60R 19/54
Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions: obstruction removers or deflectors
B60R 3/002
Arrangements of steps or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle, e.g. running-boards: running boards
B60R 3/02
Arrangements of steps or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle, e.g. running-boards: retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts