Back to results
US 7,740,260 B2Granted
Vehicle step with hinged pedestal mount
AssigneesFord Global Technologies, LLC, Multimatic Inc.
InventorsMichael VanBelle, Louis Caballero, Sven Sauerwein, David Barrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle step assembly uses hinged pedestals and attitude links to position step stringers and an attached step beam in a generally horizontal and elevated deployed position, while permitting a space-saving tucked-in stowed position.
Claims18
A vehicle step, comprising:
- a base adapted for attachment to at least one structural member of a vehicle;
- a hinged pedestal having a first end pivotably mounted to said base, and a free end, with said hinged pedestal being rotatable outwardly and upwardly from a generally horizontal stowed position to a generally vertical deployed position;
- a step stringer pivotably attached to said free end of said hinged pedestal and extending generally outwardly from said base, with said step stringer having a stowed position and a deployed position;
- an attitude link having a first end pivotably mounted to said base, and a second end pivotably mounted to said step stringer and an articulated support member extending between said base and at least one structural member of a vehicle.
1 more element
A vehicle step, comprising:
- a base adapted for attachment to at least one structural member of a vehicle, with said base comprising a plurality of spaced-apart brackets having opposing interior surfaces;
- a plurality of hinged pedestals, with each pedestal having a first end pivotably mounted to one of said opposing interior surfaces, and a free end, with said hinged pedestals being rotatably movable outwardly and upwardly from a generally horizontal stowed position to a generally vertical deployed position;
- a plurality of step stringers, with one of said stringers being pivotably attached to the free end of each of said hinged pedestals, and with said step stringers extending generally outwardly and upwardly from said base, with said step stringers having a stowed position and a deployed position;
- a step beam attached to said step stringers, with said step beam having a generally planar tread surface, and with said step beam having a stowed position and a deployed position;
- and
- a plurality of attitude links, with each link having a first end pivotably mounted to one of said opposing interior surfaces, and a second end pivotably mounted to one of said step stringers, with said hinged pedestals, and said step stringers, and said attitude links cooperating to position said step stringers such that said step stringers move outwardly and upwardly when the hinged pedestals and the step stringers move from their respective stowed positions to their respective deployed positions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.