RUNNING BOARD HAVING IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a running board system for vehicles, which comprises at least two drive groups at each side of the running board system and a driving member, where said driving member is fixed onto a drive flange such that rotational motion provided by said driving member is transferred through to a worm gear. Said running board system further comprises a bracket gear whereby movement is transferred from worm gear to bracket gear and a middle bracket centered to bracket gear. Said running board system further comprises a torque arm whereby movement from the side with driving member is transferred to the side without driving member in a synchronized manner and thereby running board is opened and dosed parallel to vehicle, and the running board is driven parallel to the ground in a horizontal and vertical opening-closing motion.

Claims

1. A running board system (50) for vehicles, said running board system comprising a board (2) two drive groups at each side of the running board system (50) and a driving member (26), said driving member (26) is fixed onto a drive flange (8) such that rotational motion provided by said driving member (26) is transferred through to a worm gear (13) said running board system (50) further comprising a bracket gear (6) such that movement is transferred from said worm gear (13) to said bracket gear (6), said running board system (50) further comprising a middle bracket (17) centered to bracket gear (6), said running board system (50) further comprising a torque arm (25) in connection to two worm gears (13) at each side of the running board system such that movement from the side with driving member (26) is transferred to the side without driving member (26) in a synchronized manner and thereby said board (2) is opened and closed parallel to vehicle, whereby said board (2) is driven parallel to the ground in a horizontal and vertical opening-closing motion.

2. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said running board system comprises a protective cover (4) secured onto said top bracket (16) whereby said bracket gear (6) and worm gear (13) are protected against damage by water or dirt entering the system and rendering the mechanism non-operational.

3. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said running board system further comprises a sliding bracket (30) centered by a centering shaft (28) such that movement is transferred from middle bracket (17) to said sliding bracket (30).

4. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said two drive groups arranged in this manner are fixed onto board (2) from said sliding bracket (30) via a bottom bracket (31).

5. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said torque arm (25) rotates concentrically with said worm gears (13).

6. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said middle bracket (17) is configured to rotate around at least 180°.

7. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a stopper (10) is placed onto said top bracket (16) such that side surface of middle bracket (17) comes into contact with said stopper (10) and terminates the movement to dampen the noise and the impact.

8. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said drive groups are configured to have an angle less than 90°, particularly between 25° and 35° and more particularly around 30°∓2° with respect to the board surface.

9. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said torque arm (25) is manually rotatable or the motor connection area of worm gear (13) is rotatable by a rotating means.

10. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that gear system comprising said worm gear (13) and corresponding bracket gear (6) are configured to slow down the high speed rotation of driving member (26) such that when worm gear (13) completes one full rotation, bracket gear (6) rotates at the rate of the gear ratio.

11. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that when bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, middle bracket (17) rotates 180° and board (2) moves from closed position to open position.

12. A running board system (50) as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that when bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, worm gear (13) rotates at a rate depending

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a running board in a vehicle, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

[0016] The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the Claims, nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

[0017] The drawings are only exemplary in the sense that they do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensions and relative proportions of the respective components of the system if not otherwise explicitly stated.

[0018] FIG. 1 demonstrates a general exploded view of the components making up the running board system according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 demonstrates a perspective front view of the running board system according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 demonstrates a perspective side view of the running board system according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 demonstrates a perspective back view of the running board system according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 demonstrates a top view of the running board system in a closed position according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 demonstrates a top view of the running board system in a partly open position according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7 demonstrates a side sectional view of the running board system according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 8 demonstrates a side view of the running board system in an open position according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 9 demonstrates a side view of the running board system in a partly open position according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 10 demonstrates a side view of the running board system in a closed position according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0028] The following numerals are assigned to different parts used in the detailed description: [0029] 1 First end cap [0030] 2 Board [0031] 3 Second end cap [0032] 4 Protective cover [0033] 6 Bracket gear [0034] 8 Drive flange [0035] 10 Stopper [0036] 12 Worm gear flange [0037] 13 Worm gear [0038] 16 Top bracket [0039] 17 Middle bracket [0040] 21 T-nut [0041] 23 First bolt [0042] 25 Torque arm [0043] 26 Driving member [0044] 27 Screw [0045] 28 Centering shaft [0046] 29 Cap gasket [0047] 30 Sliding bracket [0048] 31 Bottom bracket [0049] 32 Pin [0050] 33 Second bolt [0051] 34 Felt [0052] 36 Splint [0053] 37 O-ring [0054] Sealing ring [0055] 41 Bush [0056] 42 Slotted coupling [0057] 43 Third bolt [0058] 50 Running board system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0059] According to the present invention, the functioning of the mechanism of running board system (50) will be delineated hereinafter in reference to the appended figures.

[0060] In accordance with the main operating principle underlying the mechanism of the present invention, a driving member (26) drives the board (2) of the invention parallel to the ground in a horizontal opening-closing motion. Driving member (26) is fixed onto a drive flange (8). Said drive flange (8) provides bearing for said driving member (26).

[0061] Rotational motion provided by driving member (26) is transferred through drive flange (8) to worm gear (13) which is centered and borne by worm gear flange (12) and positioned in top bracket (16). Movement is transferred from worm gear (13) to bracket gear (6). Then movement is transferred from bracket gear (6) to middle bracket (17).

[0062] In order to protect bracket gear (6) and worm gear (13) from damage by water or dirt entering the system and rendering the mechanism non-operational, a protective cover (4) is secured onto top bracket (16).

[0063] Movement is transferred from middle bracket (17) to sliding bracket (30) which is centered by a centering shaft (28). Sliding bracket (30) is attached to bottom bracket (31) by at least one pin (32). The two drive groups arranged in this manner are fixed onto board (2) from bottom bracket (31) via T-nut (21).

[0064] A torque arm (25) connected to the two worm gears (13) by a slotted coupling (42) ensures the movement from the side with driving member (26) is transferred to the side without driving member (26) in a synchronized manner and thereby board (2) is opened and closed parallel to vehicle, as can be seen in FIGS. 8-10.

[0065] Because there is no driving member connected to the group on the side without driving member (26), movement is transferred from the side with driving member (26) via a torque arm (25) connecting the two worm gears (13) and rotating concentrically with said worm gears (13).

[0066] In order for board (2) to move from a closed position to an open position, middle bracket (17) rotates around 180°, providing access to the side entry of the vehicle. In order for the rotational movement provided by driving member (26) to be limited to 180°, a stopper (10) having one end covered by rubber is placed onto top bracket (16) to dampen the noise and the impact. When board (2) reaches the desired position during the opening and dosing of the running board, the side surface of middle bracket (17) comes into contact with stopper (10) and terminates the movement. At this stage, the electronic module in the vehicle confirms that the running board is open or dosed using the information received from driving member (26) and ensures that the running board system operates in an integrated manner with the vehicle.

[0067] According to the present invention, two end caps (1, 3) are fixed on either side of board (2).

[0068] When the start signal from the electronic module reaches the running board system, driving member (26) starts its operation. The movement produced by driving member (26) drives said worm gear (13). Middle bracket (17) centered and borne by bracket gear (6), moves concentrically and in sync with said bracket gear (6) and transfers the movement to sliding bracket (30). The rotation of middle bracket (17) is transferred via sliding bracket (30), which is centered and borne by centering shaft (28), to bottom bracket (31) and to board (2), which is fixed thereto by a T-nut (21). The drive groups are assembled to have an angle less than 90°, particularly between 25° and 35° and more particularly around 30°∓2° with respect to the board surface; therefore, during the rotation of middle bracket (17) as the running board system (50) opens and closes, board (2) moves both horizontally and vertically. This angle can be changed in order to adjust how far away from the vehicle board (2) will move in the fully open position.

[0069] The 180° rotation movement of middle bracket (17) is limited by stopper (10) in the fully open and fully dosed positions of board (2), therefore there is no need for driving member (26) to be locked in order to limit the movement. In addition, the 180° rotation movement of middle bracket (17) allows said middle bracket (17) to be smaller and therefore running board system (50) of the invention has an advantageous compact structure in the dosed position while providing a suitable distance in the open position. This allows said running board system (50) to be mounted onto the vehicle more easily and protects said running board system (50).

[0070] In case the vehicle cannot provide power to driving member (26), torque arm (25) which is used to transfer movement from the side with driving member (26) to the side without driving member (26) can be rotated manually or the motor connection area of worm gear (13) can be rotated by a rotating means, for example a key, in order to manually close the running board system.

[0071] A gear system comprising a worm gear (13) and corresponding bracket gear (6) are used in order to slow down the high speed rotation of driving member (26). When worm gear (13) completes one full rotation, bracket gear (6) rotates at the rate of the gear ratio. In response, when bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, middle bracket (17) rotates 180° and board (2) moves from closed position to open position. When bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, worm gear (13) rotates at a rate depending on the gear ratio.

[0072] Because board (2) also moves up in the vertical direction when the running board system is closing, the running board system is protected from problems arising from irregularities of the road and also, the components of the system are protected from damages arising from dirt mud and water on the roads. The rotation is transferred directly from the side with driving member (26) to the side without driving member (26) by torque arm (25) in a synchronized manner so the movement of board (2) is harmonious.

[0073] In a nutshell, the invention proposes a running board system (50) for vehicles, said running board system comprising a board (2) two drive groups at each side of the running board system (50) and a driving member (26).

[0074] In an aspect of the invention, said driving member (26) is fixed onto a drive flange (8) such that rotational motion provided by said driving member (26) is transferred through to a worm gear (13).

[0075] In an aspect of the invention, said running board system (50) further comprising a bracket gear (6) such that movement is transferred from said worm gear (13) to said bracket gear (6).

[0076] In an aspect of the invention, said running board system (50) further comprising a middle bracket (17) centered to bracket gear (6).

[0077] In an aspect of the invention, said running board system (50) further comprising a torque arm (25) in connection to two worm gears (13) at each side of the running board system such that movement from the side with driving member (26) is transferred to the side without driving member (26) in a synchronized manner and thereby said board (2) Is opened and closed parallel to vehicle.

[0078] In an aspect of the invention, said board (2) is driven parallel to the ground in a horizontal and vertical opening-dosing motion.

[0079] In an aspect of the invention, said running board system comprises a protective cover (4) secured onto said top bracket (16) whereby said bracket gear (6) and worm gear (13) are protected against damage by water or dirt entering the system and rendering the mechanism non-operational.

[0080] In an aspect of the invention, said running board system further comprises a sliding bracket (30) centered by a centering shaft (28) such that movement is transferred from middle bracket (17) to said sliding bracket (30).

[0081] In an aspect of the invention, said two drive groups arranged in this manner are fixed onto board (2) from said sliding bracket (30) via a bottom bracket (31).

[0082] In an aspect of the invention, said torque arm (25) rotates concentrically with said worm gears (13).

[0083] In an aspect of the invention, said middle bracket (17) is configured to rotate around at least 180°.

[0084] In an aspect of the invention, a stopper (10) is placed onto said top bracket (16) such that side surface of middle bracket (17) comes into contact with said stopper (10) and terminates the movement to dampen the noise and the impact.

[0085] In an aspect of the invention, said drive groups are configured to have an angle less than 90°, particularly between 25° and 35° and more particularly around 30°∓2° with respect to the board surface.

[0086] In an aspect of the invention, said torque arm (25) is manually rotatable or the motor connection area of worm gear (13) is rotatable by a rotating means.

[0087] In an aspect of the invention, gear system comprising said worm gear (13) and corresponding bracket gear (6) are configured to slow down the high speed rotation of driving member (26) such that when worm gear (13) completes one full rotation, bracket gear (6) rotates at the rate of the gear ratio.

[0088] In an aspect of the invention, bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, middle bracket (17) rotates 180° and board (2) moves from dosed position to open position.

[0089] In an aspect of the invention, bracket gear (6) completes one half rotation, worm gear (13) rotates at a rate depending on the gear ratio.