GB2477429A

GB2477429A - A retractable step for a road vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2477429A
Application number: GB1101686A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Michael Roberts
Original assignee: COURTSIDE CONVERSIONS Ltd
Current assignee: COURTSIDE CONVERSIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-01
Filing date: 2011-02-01
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: GB201001577D0; GB201101686D0

Abstract

A step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door comprises a main step body 1 and a hinge mechanism having a hinge axis (figure 1) and means for attachment to a sill 10 of the road vehicle in such manner that a tread surface of the step assembly can be moved between a projecting position in which it projects outwardly of the road vehicle and a retracted position in which it does not so project, the step assembly being connected to a grab rail 11 that can be grasped manually for movement of the step assembly between its projecting and retracted positions. The upper end of the grab rail may be slidably connected 14 to a vertical pillar 15 of the vehicle adjacent the door. The step body may rotate through substantially 180 degrees between said retracted and projecting positions.

Description

ROAD VEHICLES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to road vehicles and is particularly concerned with road vehicles that have sliding side doors.

With the constant requirement to provide enhanced safety and to avoid accidents, it is desirable that it should be made as easy and as safe as possible for a person to get into and out of such vehicles.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of installing a step assembly in a road vehicle having a sliding side door.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door, the step assembly comprising a main step body and a hinge mechanism having a hinge axis and means for attachment to a sill of the road vehicle in such manner that a tread surface of the step assembly can be moved between a projecting position in which it projects outwardly of the road vehicle and a retracted position in which it does not so project, the step assembly being connected to a grab rail that can be grasped manually for movement of the step assembly between its projecting and retracted positions.

The grab rail may be provided with a handle attached to the lower portion thereof to facilitate manual grasping thereof. The upper end of the grab rail is preferably connected slidably to a vertical pillar of the vehicle adjacent the door opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door, the step assembly comprising a main step body and a hinge mechanism having a hinge axis and means for attachment to a sill of the road vehicle in such manner that a tread surface of the step assembly can be moved between a projecting position in which it projects outwardly of the road vehicle and a retracted position in which it does not so project, the main step body being rotatable about the hinge axis through substantially 180 degrees between said projecting and retracted positions.

Spring means acting about the hinge axis are preferably provided to balance the weight of the step assembly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a step assembly in a road vehicle having a sliding side door, said method including the use of a step assembly as defined above.

An important advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention is that, unlike many other step assemblies currently on the market, they can be installed without removal of the runners on which the sliding doors are supported.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view illustrating the majority of the parts of a first embodiment of step assembly, Figure 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a step assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the step assembly being shown in its lowered, projecting position, Figure 5 is an end view of the step assembly of Figure 4 in its lowered, projecting position, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the step assembly of Figure 4.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The step assembly shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes a main body 1 and a hinge tube 2 that is welded to the vehicle sill 10 so as to extend horizontally on top of the vehicle sill 10. A pivot bar 4 is contained within the hinge tube 2 and the pivot bar 4 is connected to the main step body I by a pair of hinge mount angle-section plates 8 and 9. Slide bearings 3 act between the pivot bar 4 and the hinge tube 2 to ensure free rotation of the pivot bar 4 relative to the hinge tube 2.

A rectangular coloured tread (not shown in Figures 1 to 3) is attached to the side plates of the main body 1 so that, when the step assembly is in the position shown in Figure 1, with the back plate of the main body 1 abutting a sill plate 7 attached to the original sill 10 of the vehicle, the tread provides a horizontal upwardly presented support surface on which a user of the vehicle can tread. The back plate of the main body 1 also abuts a runner 20 (shown in Figure 1) which supports the sliding door of the vehicle when it is being moved between its open and closed positions. Torsion springs or a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly (not shown) can be provided to balance the weight of the step assembly.

The embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 has many features in common with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 and, where parts are the same, the same reference numerals has been used to indicate corresponding parts.

A grab rail 11 (not shown in Figures 1 to 3, but shown in Figures 4 to 6) is provided and, at its lower end, the grab rail 11 is attached to one of the side plates 12 of the main body I of the step assembly. A handle can be attached to the grab rail 11 at a point spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof at a position such that it can readily be grasped by a user of the vehicle either to raise or to lower the step assembly. At its upper end, the grab rail 11 is attached to a slide block 13 that is movable within a vertical slot 14 in an upstanding pillar 15 attached to the vehicle adjacent the door opening.

To install the step assembly of Figures 4 to 6 in an existing vehicle in register with the existing step structure 16 in the vehicle, the runners 21 and 22 on which the sliding door of the vehicle is arranged to move are cut away and mechanical interlocks 23 are then used to stop the door coming off the runners 21 and 22 when the main body 1 of the step assembly is in its lowered position, as shown in the drawings.

When the step assembly is not required, the user can take hold of the grab rail 11 and move it upwardly so that the slide block travels upwardly along the slot 14 in the upstanding pillar 15 and the main body I of the step assembly is caused to rotate with the pivot bar 4 about the axis of the hinge tube 2 through substantially 180 degrees so that the main body 1 of the step assembly is contained within the existing step structure 16.

The use of the step assembly thus permits safe access into the vehicle and egress from the vehicle for persons of limited mobility.

The time taken to move the main body I of the step assembly between its two limiting positions is minimal, as is the effort required to effect such movement.

Claims

Claims:- 1. A step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door, the step assembly comprising a main step body and a hinge mechanism having a hinge axis and means for attachment to a sill of the road vehicle in such manner that a tread surface of the step assembly can be moved between a projecting position in which it projects outwardly of the road vehicle and a retracted position in which it does not so project, the step assembly being connected to a grab rail that can be grasped manually for movement of the step assembly between its projecting and retracted positions.
2. A step assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the grab rail is provided with a handle attached to the lower portion thereof to facilitate manual grasping thereof.
3. A step assembly as claimed in either of the preceding claims, in which the upper end of the grab rail is so formed that it can be connected slidably to a vertical pillar of the vehicle adjacent the door opening.
4. A step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door, the step assembly comprising a main step body and a hinge mechanism having a hinge axis and means for attachment to a sill of the road vehicle in such manner that a tread surface of the step assembly can be moved between a projecting position in which it projects outwardly of the road vehicle and a retracted position in which it does not so project, the main step body being rotatable about the hinge axis through substantially 180 degrees between said projecting and retracted positions.
5. A step assembly as claimed in Claim 4, which includes spring means acting about the hinge axis to balance the weight of the step assembly.
6. A step assembly for a road vehicle having a sliding side door, said step assembly being constructed and arranged to function substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
7. A method of installing a step assembly in a road vehicle having a sliding side door, said method including the use of a step assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
8. A road vehicle in which a step assembly has been installed by the method of Claim 7.