US 8,011,681 B2Granted

Vehicle structure

AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.

InventorRichard Plavetich

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A vehicle side panel step structure includes a step, a mounting structure and a sub-side body panel. The mounting structure movably couples the step to the structural support for movement of the step between a retracted step position and an extended step position relative to a structural support of the vehicle. In the extended step position the step is approximately horizontally oriented relative to a main side body panel of the vehicle. A sub-side body panel is coupled to the mounting structure to move between a fascia mating position when the step is in the retracted step position and a non-fascia mating position when the step is in the extended step position. The sub-side body panel includes a contoured edge configured such that in the retracted step position the contoured edge of the sub-side body panel and a contoured edge of the main side body panel at least partially define the wheel well.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An access structure for a vehicle having a structural support, the access structure comprising:

a mounting structure pivotally coupled to the structural support for pivoting movement about the pivot axis, the mounting structure including a first frame section and a second frame section that are rigidly fixed to one another such that the first frame section is located on a first side of the pivot axis and the second frame section is located on a second side of the pivot axis opposite the first frame section, the first frame section and the second frame section extending from the pivot axis to form an obtuse angle therebetween;
and
a step rigidly fixed to the first frame section such that the step moves with the first frame section about the pivot axis between a retracted position and an extended position such that in the retracted position a distal end of the second frame section is spaced apart from the structural support and located inboard of the pivot axis and the step is in a substantially non-horizontal orientation and such that in the extended position the distal end of the second frame section contacts the structural support and the step is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/720,426Filed 9 Mar 2010 · continuation
Priority: 21 Mar 2007
Published: US 2010/0164198 A11 Jul 2010
Granted: 6 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

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

Family

Application11/689,238Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Mar 2007
US 2010/0164198 A1Pre-grant publication · published 1 Jul 2010
US 7,703,784 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2008/0231076 A1Published application
US 8,011,681 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.