AU2004101010A4

AU2004101010A4 - Side step air tank for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2004101010A4
Application number: AU2004101010A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Adriano G Girolamo; Tommaso Girolamo; Antonio Nicola Tedesco
Original assignee: ADRIANO GIROLAMO
Current assignee: ADRIANO GIROLAMO
Priority date: 2004-11-29
Filing date: 2004-11-29
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-29

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Agent and Address for Service: Invention Title: Antonio Nicola Tedesco, Adriano G Girolamo and Tommaso Girolamo Antonio Nicola Tedesco Adriano G Girolamo Tommaso Girolamo MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia SIDE STEP AIR TANK FOR A VEHICLE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

O Field Of Invention This invention relates to an accessory for a motor vehicle and particularly an 0 accessory for off road vehicles such as four wheel drive vehicles for use when

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travelling in the bush.

Background Of The Invention When travelling off-road in soft sand it is desirable to reduce the pressure in the tyres of a vehicle to improve traction. Upon returning to a hard surface, however, it is ,important to re-inflate tyres to prevent damage to them. Manual pumping or the use of car battery powered compressors are slow and tedious and hence it is desirable to have a source of compressed air readily available. Also when travelling in the country mechanical components of a vehicle can become clogged with dust. In such situations a source of compressed air would be useful to enable the blowing clean of such components. While a tank of compressed air could be carried in a vehicle such as a four wheel drive vehicle this can be inconvenient and space consuming.

It is the object of this invention to provide a solution to this problem or to at least provide an alternative to the travelling public.

Brief Description Of The Invention In one form therefore the invention is said to reside in a motor vehicle side step comprising a compressed air tank and means to supply air into the tank and to remove air from it.

Preferably the side step includes at least one platform for use as a step on the air tank. The platform or platforms may be recessed into the air tank or may be fixed to it.

Preferably the means to supply air into the tank and to remove it therefrom comprises an air hose snap fitting and there may also be included a pressure release valve to prevent over inflation.

The motor vehicle side step can include brackets to enable the side step to be 0 mounted to the chassis or undercarriage of a motor vehicle.

z In a further form the invention is said to reside in a motor vehicle having a side step on each side thereof, each side step comprising a compressed air tank and means to Ssupply air into the tank and to remove air from it.

,The or each side step may be manufactured from steel, stainless steel or aluminium.

The tank may have a regular cross sectional shape along its length and the cross sectional shape of the air tank may be selected from the shape comprising circular, rectangular, hexagonal or oval or any other convenient shape.

The side step air tank can be conveniently refilled at a filling station or by connection of a car battery powered compressor at some convenient time.

Brief Description Of The Drawings This then generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of the invention with the assistance of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle incorporating a side step according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a side step of the present invention; Figure 3 shows an elevation view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows an end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Description Of Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows a two door off road motor vehicle incorporating a side step according S to one embodiment of the present invention. The motor vehicle 1 has a side step 3

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between the front wheel 5 and the rear wheel 7 at the side of the vehicle. The side step 3 includes a floor plate step insert or platform 9 which provides a convenient and secure step for a person entering or leaving the vehicle. Brackets 11 extend to athe chassis or undercarriage of the motor vehicle 1.

Figure 2 shows a plan view, Figure 3 shows an elevation view and Figure 4 shows an end view of an alternative embodiment of a side step air tank of the present invention. In this embodiment the side step air tank 20 comprises a tubular body 22 turned inwards at each end 24 and closed off with an end plate 26. The tubular body is circular in cross section, and in an alternative shape may have an oval cross section. Brackets 28 extend from the body 22 to be fastened to a suitable portion of the chassis or undercarriage of the motor vehicle. The brackets 28 are welded to the tubular body of the side step air tank. An air hose snap fitting 30 is included to enable air to be supplied air into the tank and to be removed from it using an air hose with a compatible fitting. A pressure release valve 32 is provided to prevent over inflation and prevent bursting if the tank becomes overheated such as on a very hot day. Suitable guard plates (not shown) may be provided to protect the air hose snap fitting 30 and the pressure release valve 32 from damage due to stones or the like thrown up by the wheels. Conveniently the air hose snap fitting 30 and the pressure release valve 32 are provided on the inside of the side step Platforms 34 and 36 are provided as insets into the tubular body 22 in positions adjacent to the front and rear entrances to a four door vehicle and these provide a step to facilitate entrance into the vehicle. In an alternative arrangement platforms can be provided on the tubular body with sides which extend down to and are welded onto the tubular body.

The air side step can be constructed from steel, stainless steel or aluminium.

0 In one embodiment the tubular body may be constructed from aluminium and have an outside diameter of 89 mm, wall thickness of 5 mm and a length of 1500 mm. The 0 steps can be of length of from 300 to 400 mm. The brackets can comprise 50 mm by mm steel or aluminium angle and extend 550 mm from the side step air tank body. Such an air tank may hold air up to a pressure of 100 psig and provide enough Sair to re-inflate several tyres. With an air tank side step on each side of a vehicle 0 enough air can be carried to re-inflate all tyres after travelling in soft sand or the like.

Throughout this specification various indications have been given as to the scope and nature of the invention but the invention is not limited to any one of these but may reside in two or more combined together. The examples are given for illustration only and not for limitation.

Claims

2. A motor vehicle side step as in Claim 1 including at least one platform for use as a step on the air tank wherein the platform is either recessed into or fixed onto the 0 air tank.
3. A motor vehicle side step as in Claim 1 wherein the air tank includes an air hose snap fitting.
4. A motor vehicle side step as in Claim 1 wherein the air tank includes a pressure release valve. A motor vehicle side step as in Claim 1 including brackets to enable the side step to be mounted to the chassis or undercarriage of a motor vehicle. DATED this 29 th day of November, 2004 Antonio Nicola Tedesco, Adriano G Girolamo and Tommaso Girolamo By their Patent Attorneys MADDERNS