JP7093053B2 - Vehicle side step structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the structure of a side step of a vehicle, and more particularly to the structure of a side step provided on a side surface of an off-road vehicle or the like.

In general, off-road vehicles and the like have a high boarding position, so a so-called side step for stepping on when getting on and off is provided under the door. This type of side step is arranged in a plate shape so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is attached to the vehicle body side via a plurality of stays.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the side step 102 on the left side of the prior art, in which the left side corresponds to the outside of the vehicle and the right side corresponds to the inside of the vehicle (lower side of the floor). In the description of the prior art described below, the 100 series corresponding to the numbers of the members described in the embodiment are assigned, and in the description of the technique of Patent Document 1 described below, the 200 series is assigned.

Each stay 104 (only one is shown) is arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and has a substantially L-shape in which the base end portion 104b and the tip end portion 104c are extended in the perpendicular direction from the central curved portion 104a, respectively. None, the base end portion 104b is fixed to the side sill 108 and the floor panel 109 of the vehicle. The tip portion 104c of each stay 104 faces outward in the vehicle width direction, and a plate-shaped step plate 105 of the side step 102 is arranged so as to span the tip portion 104c, and the inside and outside of each stay 104. It is fastened with screws 115 from above at two points.

The structure of the side step 102 of the prior art configured as described above is not preferable in terms of aesthetics because the head of the screw 115 is exposed on the side step 102, and rainwater or rainwater or the like around the head of the screw 115. Accumulation of muddy water makes it even more aesthetically unpleasant and causes another problem of slipperiness and impracticality when getting on and off.
Therefore, for example, in the side step 202 described in Patent Document 1, the step plate 205 is fastened by a screw 215 from below the stay 204, and the structure of the side step 202 of Patent Document 1 is shown in FIG. 6 (c).

Screw fastening portions 205c and 205d having a closed cross section over the entire longitudinal direction are integrally formed at two locations inside and outside the lower surface of the step plate 205, and the stay 204 penetrates the lower surface of these screw fastening portions 205c and 205d. Then, the screw 215 is screwed from below, whereby the step plate 205 is fastened on each stay 204. As a result, the head of the screw 215 is concealed in the stay 204, so that various problems when the head is exposed on the side step 202 are solved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-8505

However, the structure of the side step 202 of Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 6 (c) has a problem that both getting on and off the vehicle and the minimum ground clearance cannot be achieved at the same time.
Although it differs depending on the vehicle type, the side step 202 has an optimum height for getting on and off, and the stay 204 supporting the side step 202 is often the member closest to the ground surface. The minimum ground clearance of the vehicle is determined.

In FIG. 6, the side step 102 of the prior art (b) and the side step 202 of the technique (c) of Patent Document 1 are shown at the same height. In the technique (c) of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to position the stay 204 downward by the thickness of the screw fastening portions 205c and 205d formed on the lower surface of the step plate 205, and the lowermost portion of the stay 204 is inevitably on the ground surface. It gets closer and the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle decreases. Further, if the same minimum ground clearance as that of the conventional technique (b) is secured, the side step 202 becomes too high and the boarding / alighting property deteriorates.

For off-road vehicles to which this type of side step 202 structure is applied, the minimum ground clearance is an important requirement for driving performance on rough roads, and off-road vehicles have a relatively higher riding position than passenger cars. For vehicles, etc., getting on and off is also an important requirement. Since the technique of Patent Document 1 cannot achieve both requirements at the same time, a drastic solution has been conventionally requested.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the purpose of the present invention is to prevent the head of the screw from being exposed on the side step, and to prevent the vehicle from getting on and off and the minimum ground clearance. It is to provide the structure of the side step of the vehicle which can achieve both at a high level.

In order to achieve the above object, the structure of the side step of the vehicle of the present invention includes a stay fixed to the side of the vehicle body and extending to the outside of the vehicle, and a step plate fastened on the stay. The height of the upper surface of the place where the step plate is attached becomes lower toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the step plate has an inner side wall extending upward from the inner end portion of the step surface in the vehicle width direction. The fastening portions formed on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction are fastened to the stay, and the fastening portions on the outer side in the vehicle width direction project downward from the lower surface of the step plate and are inside in the vehicle width direction. The fastening portion of the step plate projects inward in the vehicle width direction from the step surface on which the foot is placed when getting on and off the step plate, protrudes upward from the step surface, and protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner side surface of the inner side wall in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized in that it is integrally formed with the inner side wall so as to form a closed cross section with the inner side wall (claim 1).

According to the structure of the side step of the vehicle configured in this way, the step plate is fastened on the stay by the fastening member, and the head of the fastening member is concealed in the stay. Further, since the fastening portion inside the vehicle width direction is formed inside the vehicle width direction of the step surface with respect to the fastening portion formed on the lower surface of the step plate on the outside in the vehicle width direction, the fastening portion inside the vehicle width direction is formed. Can be tilted so as to lower the upper surface of the tip of the stay toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. Due to the tapered shape, the inner part of the tip in the vehicle width direction has a wider vertical width, but the downward protrusion of this part is prevented. As a result, it is possible to secure a sufficient minimum ground clearance after arranging the side steps substantially horizontally at an appropriate height.

Further , the inner side wall extending upward on the step plate may be damaged due to contact with the occupant's foot, for example, but a fastening portion inside the vehicle width direction having a closed cross section is integrally formed on the side surface thereof. Therefore, the rigidity is increased and damage is prevented.

As another aspect, it is preferable that the inner side wall of the step plate overlaps the lower portion of the side sill of the vehicle body in the vertical direction (claim 2 ).
According to the structure of the side step of the vehicle configured in this way, the splash of muddy water or the like generated on the lower side of the vehicle due to running in the rain is blocked by the overlapping portion, and the situation where the vehicle falls on the side step is prevented.

As another embodiment, the lower surface of the inner and outer fastening portions of the step plate in the vehicle width direction is formed flat, and the upper surface of the tip end portion of the stay is formed on the inner and outer fastening portions of the step plate in the vehicle width direction. Correspondingly, it is preferable that a flat mounting surface is formed (claim 3 ).
According to the structure of the side step of the vehicle configured in this way, since each mounting surface on the stay side and each fastening portion on the step plate side are both flat, the step plate is stably fastened on the stay.

As another aspect, it is preferable that the fastening portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is integrally formed on the lower surface of the step plate to form a closed cross section (claim 4 ).
According to the structure of the side step of the vehicle configured in this way, the fastening portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction forming a closed cross section is integrally formed on the lower surface of the step plate, so that the rigidity of the step plate is increased and the foot is hung. Bending of the time is prevented.

According to the structure of the side step of the vehicle of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the head of the fastening member from being exposed on the side step, and to achieve both the ease of getting on and off the vehicle and the minimum ground clearance at a high level.

It is a left side view which shows the vehicle to which the structure of the side step of an embodiment is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the side step on the left side and each stay. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1 showing the structure of the side step on the left side. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 showing a fastening state of the stay and the side step. It is a detailed view of the part A of FIG. 3 which shows the fastening state of the step plate with respect to a stay. It is an operation explanatory view which showed the side step of Embodiment (a), the prior art (b), and the technique (c) of Patent Document 1 at the same height.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the structure of the side step of the vehicle that embodies the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a vehicle to which the side step structure of the present embodiment is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the left side step and each stay, and FIG. 3 is a left side step structure. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 showing a fastening state of the stay and the side step.

In the following description, the front-rear and left-right directions are expressed with reference to the vehicle 1. Further, the structure of the side step 2 on the left side will be described, but the right side also has the same symmetrical structure.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side steps 2 are arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction under the front and rear doors 3 of the vehicle 1, and are arranged via three stays 4 arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. It is attached to the vehicle body side. As a whole, the side step 2 is composed of a step plate 5 having a substantially horizontal plate shape extending in the front-rear direction, and a synthetic resin cover 6 attached to both front and rear ends of the step plate 5. The cross-sectional shape of the step plate 5 will be described later, but since it is manufactured by extruding an aluminum material, all the parts in the front-rear direction have the same cross-sectional shape.

The structure of the side step 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is common to all the stays 4, and the stay 4 shown below will be described as an example.
The side sill 8 of the vehicle 1 has a closed cross section composed of a side sill inner 8a, a side sill outer 8b, and a side sill strength 8c, and a door 3 is arranged on the upper side thereof so as to be openable and closable. The stay 4 is manufactured by press-molding a steel plate, and has a substantially L-shape in which the base end portion 4b and the tip end portion 4c extend in the perpendicular direction from the central curved portion 4a as a whole. As shown in FIG. 3, the base end portion 4b of the stay 4 faces upward, is overlapped with the inner side surface of the side sill inner 8a and the lower surface of the floor panel 9, and is fastened with bolts 10 and nuts 11. The base end portion 4b extends downward from this fastening portion, and the tip end portion 4c is directed outward in the vehicle width direction at a position below the door 3 via the curved portion 4a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tip portion 4c of the stay 4 has an upwardly convex cross-sectional shape. In the following description, the upper surface of the convex is referred to as the upper surface 12, and the front and rear surfaces thereof are referred to as the rib surface 13, respectively. Refer to. As described above, the base end portion 4b of the stay 4 is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the tip end portion 4c is cantileveredly supported via the curved portion 4a. Therefore, the stress is most concentrated on the portion of the tip portion 4c near the curved portion 4a, and the stress is reduced toward the tip side (outside in the vehicle width direction).

In response to such a demand for strength, the tip portion 4c of the stay 4 has a tapered shape toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the vertical width of the tip portion 4c (the vertical width of the rib surface 13) is as wide as the curved portion 4a in the vicinity of the curved portion 4a, and gradually decreases from this portion toward the tip side.
The height of the upper surface 12 of the tip portion 4c of the stay 4 is lower toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. The stay 4 of the present embodiment is inclined so that the upper surface 12 of the tip portion 4c descends toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and as a result, the lower edge of the tip portion 4c (lower edge of the rib surface 13) is substantially horizontal. Nothing. The upper surface 12 of the tip portion 4c does not have to be inclined, and may be a plurality of steps descending in a staircase pattern. Flat mounting surfaces 12a and 12b are formed at two locations on the upper surface 12 of the tip portion 4c at predetermined intervals, and screw holes 12c (shown in FIG. 4) are formed therein. Hereinafter, the inner side in the vehicle width direction is referred to as an inner mounting surface 12a, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction is referred to as an outer mounting surface 12b. Is set to a higher position.

The step plate 5 of the side step 2 is arranged so as to span over the tip portion 4c of each stay 4. At the time of extrusion molding, the inner side wall 5a, the outer wall 5b, and the pair of screw fastening portions 5c and 5d are integrally formed on the step plate 5 over the entire longitudinal direction, and each portion will be described in sequence below.
The inner side wall 5a has a cross-sectional shape extending upward from the inner edge of the step plate 5 in the vehicle width direction, and the lower part of the side sill inner 8a and the lower part of the side sill outer 8b are inside the inner side wall 5a in the vehicle width direction. The flange portion 8d (lower portion of the side sill) formed by the joint with the side sill is located. The flange portion 8d and the inner side wall 5a overlap in the vertical direction, whereby splashes of muddy water or the like generated on the lower side of the vehicle 1 due to rainy weather or the like are blocked by the overlapping portion and fall on the side step 2. Is prevented.

Further, the outer wall 5b has a cross-sectional shape extending downward from the outer edge portion of the step plate 5 in the vehicle width direction, and the tip portion 4c of each stay 4 is concealed by the outer wall 5b. Then, the region between the inner side wall 5a and the outer wall 5b on the upper surface of the step plate 5 functions as a step surface 5e on which the foot rests when getting on and off.
On the other hand, the screw fastening portions 5c and 5d have a square closed cross section extending in the front-rear direction at two locations inside and outside the step plate 5, and the lower surface of each is formed flat. Hereinafter, the inner side in the vehicle width direction is referred to as an inner screw fastening portion 5c (fastening portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction), and the outer side in the vehicle width direction is referred to as an outer screw fastening portion 5d (fastening portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction).

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of part A of FIG. 3 showing a state in which the step plate 5 is fastened to the stay 4. The figure shows the details of the outer mounting surface 12b, but the inner mounting surface 12a has the same configuration.
The outer screw fastening portion 5d is formed on the lower surface of the step plate 5 and corresponds to the outer mounting surface 12b of the stay 4 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the lower surface of the outer screw fastening portion 5d is located below the lower surface of the step plate 5 by the thickness of the outer screw fastening portion 5d. A nut hole 5f is formed in the lower surface of the outer screw fastening portion 5d so as to coincide with the screw hole 12c of the outer mounting surface 12b of each stay 4, and the blind nut 14 is caulked and fixed from below.

As is well known, the blind nut 14 is compressed and deformed in the axial direction due to the fastening force when the screw 15 (fastening member) is screwed while being inserted into the nut hole 5f to prevent the blind nut 14 from coming off from the nut hole 5f. It is a simple mounting nut of the principle to be used. Note that the method is not limited to the blind nut 14 as long as the nut function can be applied to the lower surfaces of the screw fastening portions 5c and 5d having a closed cross section. It may be formed.

The inner screw fastening portion 5c is formed on the inner side surface of the inner side wall 5a in the vehicle width direction, and corresponds to the inner mounting surface 12a of the stay 4 in the vehicle width direction. A nut hole 5f is formed in the lower surface of the inner screw fastening portion 5c so as to coincide with the screw hole 12c of the inner mounting surface 12a of each stay 4, and the blind nut 14 is caulked and fixed from below.
The lower surface of the inner screw fastening portion 5c is flush with the lower surface of the step plate 5, and as a result, it is located above the lower surface of the outer screw fastening portion 5d. It is set to be equal to the height difference between the mounting surface 12a and the outer mounting surface 12b. Therefore, the step plate 5 fixed on the stay 4 is kept substantially horizontal.

A screw 15 is screwed into each blind nut 14 through the screw holes 12c of the mounting surfaces 12a and 12b of the stay 4 from below, whereby the step plate 5 is fastened on each stay 4. Since the mounting surfaces 12a and 12b on the stay 4 side and the screw fastening portions 5c and 5d on the step plate 5 side are both flat, the step plate 5 is stably fastened on each stay 4. A non-slip member 16 is fitted and fixed to the outer edge of the step plate 5 in the vehicle width direction over the entire longitudinal direction.

The original purpose of forming the inner screw fastening portion 5c on the side surface of the inner side wall 5a in this way is to position the lower surface above the lower surface of the outer screw fastening portion 5d, but to prevent damage to the inner side wall 5a. A secondary effect can also be obtained. The inner side wall 5a extending upward on the step plate 5 may be damaged due to contact with the occupant's foot, for example, but the rigidity is increased by integrally forming the inner screw fastening portion 5c having a closed cross section. Therefore, the damage is prevented.

The same applies to the outer screw fastening portion 5d, and the outer screw fastening portion 5d having a closed cross section is integrally formed on the lower surface, so that the rigidity of the step plate 5 is increased and the step plate 5 is bent when the foot is put on it. It is prevented.
FIG. 6 shows the side step 2 of the present embodiment (a), the side step 102 of the prior art (b), and the side step 202 of the technique (c) of Patent Document 1 at the same height, based on the same figure. Compare each structure.

First, in the present embodiment, the head of the screw 15 is concealed in the stay 4 as in the technique (c) of Patent Document 1. Therefore, as in the prior art (b), deterioration of the aesthetic appearance when the head of the screw 115 is exposed on the side step 102 is prevented, and even when rainwater or muddy water falls on the step plate 5. It is hard to slip when getting on and off because it does not collect in (around the head of screw 115). Therefore, the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1 can be improved, and high practicality can be realized as the side step 2.

On the other hand, in the technique (c) of Patent Document 1, inner and outer screw fastening portions 205c and 205d having a closed cross section are formed on the step plate 205, and the tip portion 204c of the stay 204 corresponds to the generation of stress due to cantilever support. The shape is tapered toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and this point is the same as that of the present embodiment. However, the difference is that the upper surface 212 of the tip portion 204c of the stay 204 is substantially horizontal, and such a shape setting of the stay 204 is performed not only on the inner screw fastening portion 205c of the step plate 205 but also on the outer screw fastening portion. This is because 205d is also formed on the lower surface of the step plate 205.

That is, since there is almost no height difference between the lower surfaces of the inner and outer screw fastening portions 205c and 205d, the upper surface 212 of the tip portion 204c of the stay 204 is made substantially horizontal in order to support the step plate 205 substantially horizontally. be. As a result, as compared with the prior art (b), it becomes necessary to position the stay 204 downward by the thickness corresponding to the inner and outer screw fastening portions 205c and 205d. More specifically, since the vertical width of the tip portion 204c is widened in the portion near the curved portion 204a, the tip portion 204c overhangs greatly downward especially in the vicinity of the curved portion 204a, which is a factor that reduces the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle 1. It has become.

On the other hand, in the side step 2 of the present embodiment (a), the inner screw fastening portion 5c is formed on the inner side surface of the inner side wall 5a in the vehicle width direction, in other words, on the inner side of the step surface 5e in the vehicle width direction. The lower surface thereof is flush with the lower surface of the step plate 5. Therefore, the lower surface of the inner screw fastening portion 5c is located above the lower surface of the outer screw fastening portion 5d, and the inner mounting surface 12a of the tip portion 4c on the stay 4 side is outside corresponding to this height difference. It can be set at a position higher than the mounting surface 12b.

As a result, it is possible to make the lower edge of the tip portion 4c substantially horizontal while ensuring the vertical width of the portion near the curved portion 4a of the tip portion 4c where stress is concentrated, and the side step 2 can be set at an appropriate height. A sufficient minimum ground clearance is achieved by arranging the stays substantially horizontally to ensure good boarding / alighting performance and preventing the tip portion 4c of the stay 4 from protruding downward as in the technique (c) of Patent Document 1. It can be secured and the running performance on rough roads can be improved.

Although the description of the embodiment is completed above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the side step 2 is attached to the vehicle body side via three stays 4 having a substantially L-shape, but the shape and number of stays 4 are not limited to this and can be arbitrarily changed. Is. Further, the step plate 5 of the side step 2 was extruded from aluminum, and at that time, the inner side wall 5a, the outer wall 5b, and the inner and outer screw fastening portions 5c and 5d were integrally formed. It is not limited and can be changed arbitrarily.

1 Vehicle 4 Stay 4a Curved part 4b Base end part 4c Tip part 5 Step plate 5a Inner side wall 5b Outer side wall 5c Inner screw fastening part (fastening part)
5d outer screw fastening part (fastening part)
5e Step surface 8 Side sill 8d Flange part (lower part)
12 Top surface 12a Inner mounting surface (mounting surface)
12b Outer mounting surface (mounting surface)
15 screws (fastening member)

Claims (4)

A stay that is fixed to the side of the vehicle body and extends to the outside of the vehicle,
A step plate to be fastened on the stay is provided.
The height of the stay becomes lower toward the outside in the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the place where the step plate is attached.
The step plate is formed with an inner side wall extending upward from the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the step surface, and is fastened to the stay at fastening portions formed on the inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction, respectively.
The fastening portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction projects downward from the lower surface of the step plate.
The fastening portion inside the vehicle width direction is inside the vehicle width direction from the step surface on which the foot is placed when getting on and off the step plate, projects upward from the step surface, and is a vehicle from the inner side surface of the inner side wall in the vehicle width direction. It is integrally formed with the inner side wall so as to project inward in the width direction and form a closed cross section with the inner side wall.
The structure of the side step of the vehicle is characterized by that. The structure of a side step of a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the inner side wall of the step plate overlaps the lower portion of the side sill of the vehicle body in the vertical direction. The lower surface of the inner and outer fastening portions of the step plate in the vehicle width direction is formed flat.
The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the upper surface of the tip end portion of the stay has a flat mounting surface formed corresponding to the inner and outer fastening portions of the step plate in the vehicle width direction. The structure of the side steps of the vehicle. The structure of a side step of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the fastening portion outside in the vehicle width direction is integrally formed on the lower surface of the step plate to form a closed cross section.

Images