Accessory steps for vehicle closure members
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorJoseph Prior
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Accessory steps are provided for use on motor vehicles during stationary or non-moving conditions of the vehicle. Exemplary accessory steps may include a step portion and a hook portion. The step portion may be configured to provide a step surface for a user to step on in order to access an upper vehicle structure. The hook portion may be configured to engage a hinge assembly of a closure member system of the stationary motor vehicle.
Claims20
An accessory step for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a step portion;
- and
- a hook portion connected to the step portion,
- wherein the hook portion is configured to engage a hinge bracket of a hinge assembly of a closure member system of a stationary motor vehicle such that a first hook section of the hook portion interfaces with an exterior surface of the hinge bracket, a second hook section of the hook portion interfaces with an interior surface of the hinge bracket, and a bridge section of the hook portion interfaces with an upper surface of the hinge bracket.
An accessory step for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a step portion;
- and
- a hook portion connected to the step portion,
- wherein the hook portion is configured to engage a hinge assembly of a closure member system of a stationary motor vehicle,
- wherein the hook portion is configured to hook onto a hinge bracket of the hinge assembly,
- wherein the hook portion is received within a recess of an interior surface of the hinge bracket,
- wherein the recess extends between a first mounting pad and a second mounting pad of the interior surface of the hinge bracket, and
- wherein the hook portion includes a cut-out sized to accommodate the first mounting pad or the second mounting pad.
A vehicle closure member system, comprising:
- a closure member;
- a first hinge assembly including a door-side hinge bracket mounted to the closure member;
- and
- an accessory step sized to hook onto the door-side hinge bracket without using fasteners.
A method for providing an accessory step on a stationary motor vehicle, comprising:
- hooking an accessory step onto a hinge bracket of a closure member system of the stationary motor vehicle so that a hook section of the accessory step is received between an exterior surface of a closure member of the closure member system and an interior surface of the hinge bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.