JP3483531B2 - Retractable auxiliary steps for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle arranged between a step of a vehicle such as a passenger car, a bus and a one-box car and the ground surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a step provided at the entrance / exit of a vehicle has a height difference with the ground surface that interferes with boarding / alighting. It can be seen that there is a retractable auxiliary step that can be extended freely to eliminate the height difference when getting on and off. For example, the auxiliary step shown in FIG. 12 is installed immediately below the vehicle step x, interlocks when the door is opened, and slides forward of the entrance / exit while maintaining the height, It was too high for the position from the ground to step forward,
The original purpose of the auxiliary step y as a foot joint has not been achieved. However, recently, a vehicle in which the floor of the vehicle itself is lowered and the position of the vehicle step x is also low has been developed. By equipping the lower portion of the vehicle step x with the above-mentioned auxiliary step y, the role as the auxiliary step y is achieved. Can be fully fulfilled.

[0003]

However, in this auxiliary step y, the vehicle step y is started from the inside of the lower part of the vehicle.
Since it projects so as to project further forward, the area of at least the portion where the passenger gets on and the rails (not shown) that slidably support the left and right sides of the auxiliary step x hold the base end portion of the auxiliary step x. However, it has a drawback that it requires a large storage space, and that the output of the drive source must be increased in order to advance and retreat the auxiliary step x having such a large area. Further, since the rails supporting the auxiliary step y only support the left and right sides of the auxiliary step y, there is a drawback that the rail is depressed by the stepping on and off of the occupant and the stability is poor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle in which the auxiliary step can be stored with a minimum size, the drive source can be downsized, and the stability at the time of getting on / off and traveling of the vehicle can be improved. And

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention pivotally mounts the base end portion of one driving arm, which is connected to a drive source via a transmission means, below the vehicle step, and The tip of the arm is pivotally attached to approximately the center of the bottom of the auxiliary step, the base end of the driven arm having the same radius of gyration as the main arm is pivoted below the vehicle step, and the tip is pivoted to one side of the auxiliary step. Wearing and rotating the auxiliary and driven arms, while maintaining the horizontal state of the auxiliary step, move it parallel to the right or left front so as to project to the lower front of the vehicle step, and depress the pedestrian's foot. The above-mentioned problem is solved by storing an auxiliary step of a size sufficient for the minimum depth required for the vehicle under the vehicle step. Also, in consideration of the stability issue of the step,
When the auxiliary step is extended, an auxiliary arm that supports the bottom of the auxiliary step is provided in a protruding manner.At least a pair of left and right auxiliary arms is configured to support the rear of the bottom of the auxiliary step. The auxiliary step is supported by the arm so that the horizontal state of the auxiliary step is stably maintained when getting on and off, while at the time of storing the auxiliary step, at least one auxiliary arm supports the tip of the driving arm and the bottom of the auxiliary step. In order to solve the above problems, the auxiliary steps during storage are stably maintained.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention. The auxiliary step 1 is formed in a substantially horizontally long rectangular plate shape, and is on the right side or the left side (the left side in FIG. 1) below the vehicle step S at the entrance / exit of the vehicle. ), The auxiliary step 1 is moved in parallel to the left side or the right side (the right side in FIG. 1) from this position, and is projected to the lower front of the vehicle step S. The drive mechanism portion 2 of the auxiliary step 1 is attached to the lower portion of the vehicle step S via the frame 3, and the drive source 4 of the drive mechanism portion 2 is fixed to the lower portion of the frame 3. or,
The drive source 4 is provided with a lever 4b for outwardly projecting the drive force transmission to the drive shaft 4a so as to project outward, and normally the drive force of the drive source 4 is transmitted to the drive shaft 4a. The tip of the lever 4b is connected to a bracket protruding from the drive source 4 with a pin to prevent the lever 4b from moving carelessly.

The drive mechanism section 2 includes a driving arm 5 and a driven arm 6 for moving the auxiliary step 1 in parallel, a driving source 4 for operating the driving arm 5, a driving source 4 and a driving arm 5.
It is mainly composed of a transmission means 7 for connecting with. The driving arm 5 has a base end side that bends downward with a gentle curve, and the tip end side of the bending portion is horizontal and is approximately J.
It is formed in the shape of a letter, and the base end of the driving arm 5 is pivotally attached with the fixed shaft 8 hung vertically on the right side of the frame 3 as the rotating shaft,
The tip portion is pivotally attached to approximately the center of the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a, and is horizontally arranged below the vehicle step S. On the other hand, the driven arm 6 has the same radius of rotation as the driving arm 5 and is formed in a substantially V shape in a plan view. Of the auxiliary step 1 is pivotally attached to the left side of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1. The main arm 5 and the follower arm 6 are fixed shafts 8,
Auxiliary step 1 is always moved in parallel by the rotational movement around 8a.

The transmission means 7 comprises a lever rod 9 having a substantially L-shape projectingly provided on the base end of the driving arm 5 and a drive shaft 4a of the drive source 4.
And a connecting rod 11 for pivotally connecting the tip ends of the crank 10 and the lever rod 9 to each other.
And the connecting rod 11 are pivotally connected by a pivot 11a, and the lever rod 9 and the connecting rod 11 are pivotally connected by a pivot 11b. When the drive source 4 is actuated, the base end of the driving arm 5 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions via the lever rod 9 and the connecting rod 11, so that the driven arm 6 is driven in parallel with the driving arm 5 and the auxiliary step is performed. 1 is projected to the front of the lower part of the vehicle step S or stored below the vehicle step S.

Auxiliary arms 12, 12a, 12b for supporting the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 are provided on the left and right sides of the main driving arm 5 so as to project from the auxiliary arms 12, 12a, 12b.
Support rollers 13, 13a, 13b for rolling the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 are provided at the tip ends of a, 12b. The specific arrangement of the auxiliary arms 12, 12a, 12b is as follows: in the extended state of the auxiliary step shown in FIG. 4, at the tip side of the driving arm 5 located corresponding to the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1, from the left and right rearward positions. Auxiliary arms 12 and 12a are projectingly provided so as to be directed to the left rear end and the right rear end of the bottom portion 1a, and the front end side of the driving arm 5 is directed to the front side of the bottom portion 1a from the left front portion thereof. The auxiliary arm 12b is provided so as to project. Then, in the extended state of the auxiliary step, the support rollers 13, 13a of the pair of left and right auxiliary arms 12, 12a support the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1, and the pivotal portion at the tip of the driving arm 5 and the auxiliary step 12b assist the auxiliary step. It is configured to support the front of the bottom portion 1a of 1. Further, the auxiliary arms 12a and 12b are set so as to support an appropriate position of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is stored (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Further, when the auxiliary step is extended, the support roller 13 that supports the left rear side (in FIG. 4) of the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a is held by the holder 14 provided at the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a at this position. It's done like this.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the holder 14 is arranged on the track of the support roller 13 behind the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1 and is formed in a substantially box shape with two adjacent side walls open. The support roller 13 is adapted to be inserted / removed in the insertion / removal direction, and the support roller 13 is provided inside the holder 14 so as to be freely inserted / removed. Although the holder 14 is provided so as to hold the support roller 13 when the auxiliary step is extended, the holder 14 that holds the support rollers 13a and 13b is supported at the time of extension and storage. Roller 13
The auxiliary step support positions a and 13b may be separately provided. Further, the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is provided with stoppers 15 and 15a for stopping the main driving arm 5 at a fixed position in accordance with the extended state and the stored state.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic structure of this auxiliary step 1 is the same as that described above, and the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In the drive mechanism section 2 of the auxiliary step 1, the drive source 4 is arranged on the left side of the frame 3. The main drive arm 5 is bent downward at a base end side with a gentle curve, the front end side is horizontal with respect to the bent portion, and a substantially intermediate portion ahead of the bent portion is bent rightward in a V shape. The driven arm 6 is formed by inclining and bending an intermediate portion so that the base end side and the tip end side are vertically parallel on the same axis, and the base end portion is pivotally attached to the bottom of the drive source 4 on the left side of the frame 3. , L-shaped rod with the tip protruding on the left side of auxiliary step 1
It is pivotally attached to the tip of 16.

Further, a pair of auxiliary arms 12 and 12a for supporting the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when projecting the auxiliary steps are provided on the left and right of the main driving arm 5, and the auxiliary arms 12 and 12a are provided.
Support rollers 13, 13a for rolling the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a are provided at the tip portion of the roller. Specifically, in the auxiliary step projecting state, one end of the main arm 5 corresponding to the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is directed toward the left rear end of the bottom portion 1a from the rearward side portion on the left side thereof. The arm 12 is provided so as to project, and the other auxiliary arm 12a is provided so as to be directed toward the rear of the bottom portion 1a from the front part on the right side of the main arm 5, and both the auxiliary arms 12 and 12a The support rollers 13 and 13a at the tip end support the rear of the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1. When the auxiliary step is extended, the support roller 13 that supports the rear left side of the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a is held by the holder 14 provided on the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 at such a position. Further, the auxiliary arm 12a is set so as to support the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is stored. Note that the holder 14 that holds the support roller 13a may be separately provided at each of the auxiliary step support positions of the support roller 13a when the support roller 13a is extended and stored.

Next, the operation of the auxiliary step 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (FIGS. 7 and 8 in the second embodiment), in the stored state of the auxiliary step 1, the crank 1
The driving arm 5 abuts the stopper 15 via the 0, the connecting rod 11 and the lever rod 9 and holds the state of being pulled downward of the vehicle step S, and the auxiliary step 1 at the tip of the driving arm 5 is In the horizontal state, they are arranged in parallel on the lower left side (in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7) of the vehicle step S. In this state, the support rollers 13 at the tip of the auxiliary arms 12a and 12b (auxiliary arm 12a in the second embodiment) of the main drive arm 5 are provided.
a and 13b (support roller 13a in the second embodiment) support the front and rear of the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1 (right rear in the second embodiment).
A stable horizontal state is maintained by the three-point support (two-point support of the support roller 13a in the second embodiment) between the pivotally attached portion at the tip and the support rollers 13a and 13b.

When the drive source 4 is actuated in the stored state, the crank 10 rotates in the direction in which the auxiliary step is extended, and the connecting arm 11 and the lever lever 9 interlocked therewith cause the main arm 5 to rotate the fixed shaft 8 about the center of rotation. And the auxiliary arm 6 rotates in the same direction at the same time.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 (FIGS. 9 to 11 in the second embodiment), the auxiliary step 1 is moved in parallel while keeping the horizontal position.
The vehicle is projected from the lower left side of the vehicle step S toward the lower front of the vehicle step S. At this time, the main driving arm 5 (auxiliary arm 12 in the first embodiment) contacts the stopper 15a to maintain such an extended state, and the supporting roller 13 at the tip of the auxiliary arm 12 of the main driving arm 5 is moved to the holder 14. It is hugged and supports the left rear of the auxiliary step 1 bottom 1a,
Further, the supporting rollers 13a and 13b (supporting roller 13a in the second embodiment) at the tips of the other auxiliary arms 12a and 12b (the supporting arm 12a in the second embodiment) are located on the right rear side and the left front side of the auxiliary step 1 bottom portion 1a (first In the second embodiment, the rear right side is supported, and in the auxiliary step 1, the front end portion of the driving arm 5 and the support rollers 13, 13a, 13b are supported at four points (in the second embodiment, the support rollers 13, 13a are supported at three points). The support) maintains a stable horizontal state. When the auxiliary step 1 is stored, the drive source 4 is rotated in a reverse direction to the above-described operation, and the auxiliary step 1 is stored below the vehicle step S in the reverse order of the above.

If the drive source 4 breaks down when the auxiliary step 1 is extended, the pin is removed from the bracket provided on the drive source 4 and the lever 4b is rotated in the rotatable direction to drive the drive source. 4 and the drive shaft 4a are disconnected, the auxiliary step 1 is manually stored under the vehicle step S, and then the lever 4b
Is rotated to return to the original position, the drive source 4 and the drive shaft 4a are connected to each other, and the auxiliary step 1 does not overhang while the vehicle is traveling.

[0015]

In summary, according to the present invention, the base end portion of one driving arm 5 connected to the drive source 4 via the transmission means 7 is pivotally mounted below the vehicle step S and the leading end of the driving arm 5 is provided. Part of the auxiliary step 1 is pivoted substantially at the center of the bottom part 1a, the base end of the driven arm 6 having the same radius of gyration as that of the main arm 5 is pivoted below the vehicle step S, and the tip part of the auxiliary step 1 is Since it is pivotally attached to the side, a parallel movement mechanism can be configured by the main driving arm 5, the driven arm 6 and the auxiliary step 1, and while maintaining the auxiliary step 1 horizontal, it is moved in parallel to the right or the left front, It can be made to project to the lower front of step S. Therefore, auxiliary step x
Compared with the conventional product that advances and retracts in the width direction of the vehicle, the auxiliary step 1 requires only the minimum depth necessary for a passenger to step on the vehicle. Therefore, the size of the auxiliary step 1 can be minimized. The miniaturization and the storage space of the auxiliary step 1 can be minimized.

Further, since the auxiliary arms 12, 12a and 12b which support the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 are provided on the left and right sides of the main driving arm 5 when the auxiliary step is extended, the auxiliary step 1 is provided at the bottom portion in such an extended state. Even if one main driving arm 5 supports 1a, the auxiliary steps 12, 12a, and 12b extending from the main driving arm 5 to the left and right enable the auxiliary step 1 to at least the main driving arm 5 and its left and right auxiliary arms. It can be supported at three points with 12, 12a and 12b, and its horizontal state can be stably maintained. Further, at the time of extending the auxiliary step, at least the pair of left and right auxiliary arms 12 and 12a are configured to support the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1. By supporting the auxiliary step 1 even when stepping on the auxiliary step 1 at the time of getting on and off, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary step 1 from sinking due to the load applied in front of the auxiliary step 1.
The auxiliary step 1 does not tilt, and its horizontal state can be maintained more stably. Further, since at least one auxiliary arm 12, 12a, 12b supports the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is stored, even when the auxiliary step is stored, the auxiliary step 1 is simply performed by the driving arm 5 at one point. It is not supported, and the auxiliary step 1 in the retracted state can be supported by two or more points of the main drive arm 5 and the auxiliary arms 12a and 12b, and the rattling of the auxiliary step 1 can be suppressed against the vibration generated when the vehicle is running. As described above, according to the present invention, the auxiliary step 1 can be always stably held horizontally in one state when the auxiliary step 1 is extended and stored by one main arm 5, so that an auxiliary using three or more arms, for example. The cost can be reduced as compared with the step.

The auxiliary arm 1 for supporting the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is extended or stored.
Since the tips of 2, 12a and 12b are held by the holder 14 provided on the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1, the rear portion of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is supported in each state when it is extended or stored. The tips of the auxiliary arms 12, 12a, 12b can be fixedly integrated with the auxiliary step 1 by the holder 14, so that the rear support of the auxiliary step 1 in each of the above-mentioned states can be more firmly established, and the auxiliary step 1 can be carried out at the time of getting on / off and traveling of the vehicle. The stability of the auxiliary step 1 can be increased, and the practical effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a storage state of an auxiliary step.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view when an auxiliary step is extended.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment in a stored state.

8 is a front view of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view when an auxiliary step is extended.

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9.

11 is a right side view of FIG. 9. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a simplified diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 auxiliary step 1a bottom 4 drive source 5 Drive arm 6 Follower arm 7 Transmission means 12 Auxiliary arm 12a Auxiliary arm 12b Auxiliary arm 14 holder S vehicle step

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 2000-159024 (JP, A) JP 11-11219 (JP, A) JP 10-109593 (JP, A) JP 9-240376 (JP, A) JP 9-123835 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 3/00 E06C 5/04

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base end portion of one drive arm connected to a drive source via a transmission means is pivotally mounted below a vehicle step, and a tip end portion of the drive arm is pivoted substantially at the center of a bottom portion of an auxiliary step. The driven arm, which has the same radius of gyration as that of the main arm, is pivotally attached to the lower side of the vehicle step, and the tip is pivotally attached to one side of the auxiliary step. A retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle, wherein an auxiliary arm that supports the bottom of the auxiliary step is provided so as to project when the step is extended. 2. The retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least the pair of left and right auxiliary arms support the bottom rear of the auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is extended. 3. The retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one auxiliary arm supports a bottom portion of the auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is retracted. 4. The holder provided on the bottom of the auxiliary step holds the tip of the auxiliary arm that supports the bottom of the auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is extended and stored. Item 1. A retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to item 1, 2 or 3.