SE540077C2 - Front hatch with integrated foot step - Google Patents

Abstract

13 (2), primarily intended for a cab (l) The invention relates to a foldable front hatch including(6), of a heavy/commercial vehicle, an integrated foot stepsuch as a truck. The invention is achieved by that the hatch (2) comprises one supporting(6), where the supporting module/structure 9 is arranged module/structure (9) forming a foot step in its openposition,with a rigid design to carry all necessary weight of a(2), and by that the also is arranged to carry the driver/user standing on the hatchsupporting module/structure (9)(12) exterior module forming the outer surface of the hatch (2). (Figure 8)

Description

FRONT HATCH WITH INTEGRATED FOOT STEP TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an openable/foldable front hatch, with an integrated foot step, primarily intended for aThe invention particularly refers to a lower front hatch designed cab of a heavy/commercial vehicle, such as a truck.for facilitating the adaptation of different exterior design parts of the vehicle, such as its body panels. The front hatchmust be designed having a strength/rigidity that makes it possible for the driver/user to step on it, in its opened/-in order for the driver/user to reach thewindshield The present application also refers to a vehicle provided extended position,upper front parts of the cab, like the radiator,etc. with a front hatch according to the invention.

BACKGROUND ART Some trucks are equipped with a lower front hatch that is madeopenable/foldable e.g. for making it possible for thedriver/user to reach the upper front parts of the cab, for e.g. cleaning the windshield, changing the wipers, checking the radiator fluid level etc. In the same time it is veryimportant that the lower front hatch contributes to a goodexterior design of the vehicle. The hatch should also bedesigned to effectively guide the airflow through the radiatorof the vehicle. An important factor is that the front hatch,in its opened/extended position, is strong/rigid enough for any driver/user to climb and stand on.

Known solutions/designs combines an inner structure of thehatch with the exterior panels/parts when joined together,integrated to each other, gives the hatch its necessary stability/strength.

This known type of design results in limitations when the exterior design of the cab/hatch has to be changed, when e.g.a new model of the vehicle is to be designed, produced andmarketed. If the supporting structure and the exteriorparts/panels of the hatch all have to be redesigned andintegrated with the exterior design of the whole cab/vehiclethis will result in larger costs each time the overallexterior design of the vehicle have to be changed. The designfreedom of the exterior parts will be somewhat limited inorder to give the hatch enough mechanical strength. Even thepainting of the hatch will be more complicated and expensiveif the supporting structure of the hatch always is integratedwith the exterior panel parts of the hatch. The installationof the hatch on the vehicle will as well be more difficult andcostly as the whole hatch unit have to be adjusted to thesurrounding panel parts of the cab as the adjustability spacefor the hatch is limited. Making the adjustments with the hatch closed is also a complicating factor.

It is therefore desired to separate the supporting structureof the hatch from the exterior designed parts/panels so the supporting structure always is the same between the models, and installed in the same way on the different vehicles, andonly the plastic exterior panels are changed when a newvehicle model is to be launched. The exterior parts/panelscould also in this way be installed with the supporting structure of the hatch in its closed position.

Attempts have earlier been made to provide a simple and at thesame time rigid solution of exterior panel components like a hatch including a foot step.

US2008/0277950 illustrates for example a bumper systemproviding some accessory functions, like an integrated footstep. This design has trim components covering the otherwise visible portions of a beam forming a supporting structure.

This solution does not separate the supporting structure fromthe exterior panel parts, as the parts is fixed to the beam,and does therefore not create a design freedom as the presentinvention. Furthermore this known design does not concern aopenable/foldable hatch having a foot step.

A further solution is illustrated in US5788321. This solutiondescribes a side mounted fairing intended to reduce thevehicles aerodynamic drag. A portion of the fairing isarranged easily removable to allow access to vehiclecomponents behind the fairing. The fairing is made of a rigidmaterial and planar surfaces are formed for providing steps.The supporting structure of this design is not separated fromthe main exterior components in such a way that it givesdesign freedom to the exterior parts. The fairing is notfoldable and this design is not intended to be easilyadjustable in relation to the surrounding panel parts in order to give a good exterior finish to the vehicle.

A number of similar solutions exist in the market but none ofthe prior known designs/systems illustrates a foldable hatch,intended for the front part of a vehicle cab, having a rigidfoot step and comprising a separate supporting structure aswell as exterior parts/panels mounted on the supportstructure, without any strength supporting function.

The solution according to the present invention is designed insuch a way that the basic function, to provide a foldable footstep, is provided only by the supporting structure and theexterior parts may be easily installed onto the supportingstructure by clips or screws. The exterior parts do not needto add any supporting strength to the hatch and can therefore be manufactured by light weight/weak plastic.

SUMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to solve the abovementioned problems and to provide a simple supporting andopenable/foldable structure intended for easy installation ofdifferent designed exterior parts/panels, and where it is easyto install and adjust these exterior parts/panels to thesurrounding panels of the vehicle in order to achieve a good overall exterior finish of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a design thatcan be considered having principally two different modules,one of which is a supporting structure and one is the exteriordesign, each module comprising one or more individual parts.Another object of the invention is that the hatch according tothe invention should have a simple design, with as fewcomponents as possible, thereby being cheap to manufacture/- assemble and install on the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is that the exterior part orparts should be possible to install on the supportingstructure by clips or screws, and by the supporting structure in its closed position.

A further object of the invention is that the supportingstructure must be mechanically robust, rigid and durable.A further object of the invention is that the supportingstructure should take up minimal space in relation to itsrigidity/strength and be manufactured by using minimal materials.

A further object of the invention is that the design shouldallow flexibility so that the exterior parts/panels, installed on the supporting structure, could easily be exchanged.

These and further objects and advantages is achieved by theinvention by designing it in accordance to the featuresrecited in claim l.

The invention thus refers to an openable/foldable hatch, withan integrated foot step, primarily intended for a cab of a heavy/commercial vehicle, such as a truck. The inventionparticularly refers to the lower front hatch of the cab and isdesigned for facilitating the adaptation of different outerdesigned parts/panels/components of the vehicle such as itsfront body panels, at the same time as the front hatch shouldbe designed with such a rigidity/strength that makes itpossible for the driver/user to climb and step on it in order to reach the upper front parts of the cab, for checking e.g.the water level in the radiator, for cleaning the windshield, for exchanging wipers etc.

The invention is achieved by having a supporting structure/- frame of the hatch separated from the exterior part/panels ofthe hatch in such a way that the supporting structure itself will carry all necessary weight from e.g. a driver/userstanding on the opened/extended hatch. The exteriorparts/panels of the hatch are not needed to add any structuresupport to the hatch. This design makes it possible to use weak and light weight exterior parts/panels, of e.g. thin plastic, that easily may be fastened to the supportingstructure of the hatch by clips or screws and the exteriorparts/panels will also easily may be adjusted on thesupporting structure, when installed, in order to fit to thesurrounding parts/panels of the front part of the vehicle cab.In this way the same basic supporting structure may be usedfrom one vehicle model to another and only the exteriorparts/panels are needed to be redesigned/exchanged. By usingthe same basic structure the design/hatch will be cost effective to manufacture and install.

The main advantages of the solution according to the inventionare that by separating the supporting structure from theexterior parts of the hatch is it possible to use a largevariation of exterior design of the vehicle and the hatch, andit will also be easier to adapt colors, as this can be decided without that it affects the supporting structure of the hatch.

In this way it is possible to first install the supporting structure of the hatch on the vehicle and, when in place, the exterior parts/panels. The supporting structure will serve asa guide for installing the exterior parts/panels as it will bepossible to install the exterior components on the supportingstructure in the it's closed/folded position on the vehicleand therefore will be easy to adjust to the surrounding panel parts.

Further features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following, more detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings as well as the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below in some preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates an exterior front view of a vehicle cabhaving an openable/foldable lower front hatch according to theinvention.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail, a front plan view of thefront panels of a truck, including the foldable lower fronthatch according to the invention (the inventive hatch is indicated with a dotted line).

Figure 3 illustrates the same view as figure 2 but here with the hatch in an unfolded/opened position.

Figure 4 illustrates the same front part of the vehicle/cab asshown in figure 2 and 3 but in a side view, with the hatch in an opened position.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the hatch,separated from the vehicle, including hinges.Figure 6 illustrates a view from above of the supporting structure of the hatch.

Figure 7 illustrates a front view of the exterior parts/panelsof the hatch, the so called A-surface.

Figure 8 illustrates the hatch according to the inventionwhere the two main modules/parts, the supporting structure andthe exterior parts/panels, hatch. are combined into a fully assembled Figure 9 illustrates a view from below of the supportingstructure of the hatch showing in more detail the individual parts of the supporting structure.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross section view of the supporting structure according to the line A-A in figure 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention thus refers to a lower front positionedopenable/foldable hatch, including an integrated foot step,primarily intended for a cab of a heavy/commercial vehicle, such as a truck.

Figure 1 illustrates an exterior front view of a cab l havingan openable/foldable lower front hatch 2 according to theinvention. The foldable hatch 2 makes it possible for thedriver/user to climb up and step on it in order to reach the upper front parts of the cab, for checking the water e.g. level in the radiator, for cleaning the windshield 3, for exchanging wipers 4 etc.

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the front panel parts 5 of the cab l in more detail, and the outer contour lines of the foldable lower front hatch 2, according to the invention, is indicated with a dotted line. The front of the cab l comprises a number of panel parts 5 forming the exterior of the cab l.

Figure 3 illustrates the same view as figure 2 but here thehatch 2 is opened to its unfolded/extended position, forming afoot step 6. The hatch 2 is foldable by means of two hinges 7a,b mounted in one end to the hatch 2 and in the other end toof the cab l. The hatch 2 is the framework (not shown) possible to open to its substantially horizontal position. Thehatch 2 and its foot step 6 are preferably located on the cab on a height suitable for the driver to climb.

Figure 4 illustrates the same vehicle/cab front parts 5 asshown in figure 2 and 3 but in a side view, with the hatch 2in an opened position, to its substantially horizontal position, by means of the hinges 7a,b. The hatch 2 forms afoot step on its upper side which is rigid/strong enough for a driver to stand on.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the hatch 2 including the hinges 7a,b, as shown in figure 3 or 4, but separated from the cab l. The hinges 7a,b are connected to thehatch 2 in the two end sections 8a,b of the hatch 2. The end sections 8a,b forms the supporting module/structure 9 or of the hatch 2 in combination with beams lOa-c, connecting mechanically the end sections 8a,b.

Figure 6 illustrates a view from above of the supporting module 9 of the hatch 2 (see figure 8). The three beams lOa-c of e.g. metal, such as e.g. aluminum, are mounted between the two end sections 8a,b located spaced apart. The end sections 8a,b may be manufactured by plastic, like fiber reinforced Polyamide, PA66, but could of course be made of other e.g. materials, like any type of plastic or metal. The hinges 7a,b(see figure 5) holes lla-d. can be screwed onto the end sections 8a,b via Figure 7 illustrates a front view of the exterior design ofthe hatch 2, the so called A-surface or exterior module l2, formed by one or more individual/separate parts/panels made ofe.g. plastic, mounted to the supporting module/structure 9 or by means of clips or screws (not shown). Some exterior partsmay be formed as gratings l3a,b while other parts are plastic panel's l3c-f.

Figure 8 illustrates the hatch 2 according to the inventionwhere the two modules, the supporting module 9 and theexterior module l2, are combined into a fully assembled hatch 2. The exterior module l2, or the so called A-surface, is here mounted below the supporting module/structure 9 or.

Figure 9 illustrates a view from below of the supportingmodule/structure 9 or of the hatch 2 showing in more detailthe individual parts of the supporting module 9. The three beams lOa-c are mounted, e.g. by screws (not shown), spacedapart into recesses l4a-f arranged in the end sections 8a,b ofthe supporting module/structure 9. The end sections 8a,bthemselves are cast in fiber reinforced plastic and formedwith a rib pattern 15 in order to increase the strength of theend sections 8a,b but at the same time keeping the weight of the end sections 8a,b as low as possible.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross section view of the supportingThe beams lOa-c are square formed in cross section and mounted to module/structure 9 according to the line A-A in figure 9. the end sections 8a,b by screws l6a-c. The exterior module 12with its parts/panels l3a,c,e are mounted to the supporting module/structure 9 by clips, not shown here.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention. However the invention is ofcourse not in any way restricted to only the disclosedembodiments, but many possibilities to modifications would beapparent to a person skilled in the art within the scope ofthe invention without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. l. Foldable front hatch(6),vehicle, tein (2), primarily intended for a cab including an integrated foot step(1) of a heavy/ commercial such as a truck, t :d hatch (2) comprises one supporting module/structure(6), the supporting module/structure 9 is arranged with a rigid where (9) forming thef: foot step in its open position, design to carry all necessary weight of a driver/user standing on the hatch (2), and that the supporting module/structure (9) also is arranged tocarry tfh-eman Éexterior module (l2) forming theouter surface of the hatch (2),W charactarized in that".- ' T ä't* ' in a. ä 1. ' ïldim l, ešez-rfaeëefi-æed--alfs--wtšeaàthe supporting module/structure (9) comprises two end sections(8a,b) positioned apart from each other with arranged there between supporting beams (lOa-c)íand mherein said supporting structure (9) serve ae a guide for installino the exøhanqeahle exterior meduie (12) and mherein eaid_exterior module !12}íienot adding anv etrunture suppørt to the nat {“> and ~^ “lins vr sara st the hatch ia in its leadoosittvfi Foldable front hatch (2) according to claim characterized in that that three supporting beams (lOa-c) are arranged between the end sections (8a,b) . Formaterat: Teckensnittlnte Fet, Inte Kursív, Komplextskriftteckensnitt: Fet, Kursív Kommenterad [WA1]: Page 5 line 34 Kommenterad [WA2]: Claim 2 Kommenterad [WA3]: Page 6 lines 11-16 Kommenterad [WA4]: Page 5 lines 23-25 Kommenterad [WA5]: Claim 11 Kommenterad [WA6]: Page 6 lines 11-16 24. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in that that the supporting beams (lOa-c) are made by metal. 䧿 Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in thatthe end sections (8a,b) are arranged with recesses (l4a-f) intended for the supporting beams (lOa-c). äå. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in that the end sections (8a,b) are made/cast by plastic material. ål. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in thatthe end sections (8a,b) are made/cast by fiber reinforced Polyamide, preferably by PA66. 1%. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in that the end sections (8a,b) are formed with a rib pattern (l5) inorder to increase the strength and keep the weight of the sections (8a,b) as low as possible. 3%. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any preceding claim,characterized in thatthe supporting beams (lOa-c) are made by metal, such as aluminum. âlä. Foldable front hatch (2) according to any precedingclaim, characterized in that the supporting beams (lOa-c) are fixed to the end sections (8a,b) by screws. 11 1 f V C 4» Y~+ "\ - »Ä f~ -l'~ 1i.i i i i i . , ,. /ii _ i.K _ i /i.i k i1» 1» » i - A J- AFLL J- *_i ii i, ii ..i_i J_ ,i ,_i_ ,i , i- 1» k L Ä L » \ ~ [ß Ä» »i i i J_ i. ä iii i i ,i i , i _, . 1'_+=':“'É?'ífi\?'i'š":' lfiiè. Vehicle provided with a foldable front hatch (2)according to any of the claims l-3 '