RETRACTABLE PLATFORM FOR LEISURE VEHICLES

Abstract

A retractable platform with a box-like container and an extractable step is provided with a movement device adapted to move the step, with the platform provided for equipping access doors of commercial, camping or similar vehicles. The movement device includes an electric gearmotor assembly, derived from an automotive regulator, capable of imprinting straight forwards or backwards translations to a coiled flexible cable. A straight guide is integral with the box-like container, where the front portion of the coiled flexible cable is slidable, held straight and parallel to the direction of motion of the extractable step. A bracket is fixed to the front end of the coiled flexible cable, external to the straight guide and made integral with the extractable step, so as to be able to push out or retract the latter. A shaped tubular sheath is rearwardly associated with the electric gearmotor assembly and is intended to receive and house the rear portion of the coiled flexible cable, as a result of the return stroke of the extractable step in the box-like container.

Claims

1. Retractable platform comprising a box-like container in which is housed, in rest position, an extractable step to be arranged in operating position, said retractable platform being provided for equipping lateral or rear access doors of commercial, camping or multi purpose vehicles, so as to constitute an intermediate step between the ground and a threshold of one of said access doors, said retractable platform being provided with a movement device wherein the movement device comprises: an electric gearmotor assembly, arranged inside said box-like container, intended to rotate, in both directions, a gearwheel with which a coiled flexible cable of suitable length is engaged in gearing, arranged tangentially to said gearwheel, so that the rotation of the latter imparts straight forwards or backwards translations thereto; a straight guide, made integral with said box-like container, with orientation parallel to the direction of entry and exit of said extractable step, and having a length at least equal to the useful extraction and return stroke provided for the same extractable step, with said straight guide in a form suitable for slidably housing said coiled flexible cable, retaining it therein and keeping it straight; a bracket, fixed to the front end of said coiled flexible cable, so as to be external to said straight guide, with said bracket intended to be made integral with said extractable step, so as to imprint thereon, as a result of the translations of said coiled flexible cable, the respective aforementioned useful extraction and return strokes; and a shaped tubular sheath, rearwardly associated with said electric gearmotor assembly, intended to receive and house the rear portion of said coiled flexible cable, as a result of said useful return stroke of the extractable step in said box-like container.

2. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said straight guide has a circular section open for an angular sector less than 180°, so that said coiled flexible cable, housed therein, is prevented from exiting transversely.

3. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said straight guide is arranged on the bottom of said box-like container, in a central position, with said bracket facing upwards and fixed below said extractable step.

4. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said straight guide is parallel to guide members interposed between said extractable step and box-like container.

5. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said electric gearmotor assembly is arranged on the bottom of said box-like container, oriented so that the portion of said coiled flexible cable dynamically engaged with the same assembly, is almost orthogonal with respect to the portion engaged in said straight guide.

6. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said shaped tubular sheath has a predetermined curved shape, for shaping said rear portion of said coiled flexible cable housed therein.

7. Retractable platform according to claim 1, wherein said straight guide has the external head closed by a transverse element of said box-like container, provided for defining a stop abutment of said extraction stroke of the extractable step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the retractable platform of the object, in accordance with what is proposed in the claims and with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates in a schematic side view a retractable platform applied to the underbody of a vehicle, in a closed rest position;

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates, in a view similar to FIG. 1, the retractable platform in the extracted operating position;

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates, in axonometric top view, the movement device of the retractable platform, with the latter depicted in a dashed line to make all the elements of the device more visible;

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic front view of the retractable platform;

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, the detail K of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In the aforementioned figures, a movement device of a retractable platform 100, object of the present invention, has been indicated as a whole with reference numeral 1.

[0031] The retractable platform 100 comprises a box-like container 110 in which an extractable step 120 is housed, supported and guided by guide members 130 arranged for example on both sides (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0032] Said guide members 130 may be shaped in various manners, according to known techniques, and those depicted are only a non-binding schematic example.

[0033] The retractable platform 100 is provided for equipping lateral or rear access doors P of commercial, camping or multi-purpose vehicles V, so as to constitute an intermediate step between the ground T and the threshold S of one of said access doors P (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0034] The step 120, in rest position R (FIG. 1), is almost completely inserted into the box-like container 110 as it protrudes therefrom and from the vehicle body V when arranged in the extracted operating position W (FIG. 2), moved by the movement device 1.

[0035] The movement device 1 comprises an electric gearmotor assembly 2, arranged inside said box-like container 110, intended to rotate, in both directions, a gearwheel (not visible) with which a coiled flexible cable 3 of suitable length is engaged in gearing, arranged tangentially to said gearwheel, so that the rotation of the latter imparts straight forwards or backwards translations thereto.

[0036] Advantageously, the above electric gearmotor assembly 2 is of a commercial type, already commonly used in the automotive field for door regulators; consequently, the paired coiled flexible cable 3 is also of a substantially known type, commercially available in metres.

[0037] In the movement device 1 a straight guide 4 is provided, made integral with said box-like container 110, with orientation parallel to the direction X of entry and exit of said extractable step 120, and having a length at least equal to the useful extraction and return stroke provided for the same extractable step 120.

[0038] The straight guide 4 has a shape suitable for slidably housing said coiled flexible cable 3, for retaining it therein and keeping it straight.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the straight guide 4 has a circular section open for an angular sector less than 180°, so that said coiled flexible cable 3, housed therein, is prevented from exiting transversely (see in particular FIG. 5).

[0040] The described shape of the straight guide 4 allows to fix a bracket 5 to the front end of said coiled flexible cable 3, so as to make it protrude outside of the same straight guide 4.

[0041] The bracket 5 is intended to be made integral with the aforementioned extractable step 120, so as to imprint thereon linear translations synchronized with those of the coiled flexible cable 3 along the straight guide 4, to perform the aforementioned useful extraction and return strokes.

[0042] The straight guide 4 has the external head closed by a transverse element 110T of said box-like container 110, provided for defining a stop abutment of said extraction stroke of the extractable step 120.

[0043] So that the extractable step 120 is fluid and regular, the straight guide 4 is arranged on the bottom 110F of said box-like container 110, in a central position, with the bracket 5 facing upwards and fixed below the extractable step 120.

[0044] Obviously, the straight guide 4 is arranged perfectly parallel to the aforementioned guide members 130 interposed between the extractable step 120 and the box-like container 110.

[0045] Advantageously, the electric gearmotor assembly 2 is also placed on the same bottom 110F of the box-like container 110, so that the coiled flexible cable 3 extends on a horizontal plane.

[0046] The device 1 is completed with a shaped tubular sheath 6, rearwardly associated with said electric gearmotor assembly 2, intended to receive and house the rear portion of said coiled flexible cable 3 (not visible), as a result of said useful return stroke of the extractable step 120 in said box-like container 110.

[0047] To reduce the overall depth of the box-like container 110 as much as possible, said electric gearmotor assembly 2 is advantageously oriented so that the portion of said coiled flexible cable 3 dynamically engaged with the same assembly 2, is almost orthogonal with respect to the portion engaged in said straight guide 4 (see in particular FIG. 3).

[0048] In accordance with said preferred orientation of the electric gearmotor assembly 2, the shaped tubular sheath 6 has a predetermined curved shape, to shape said rear portion of said coiled flexible cable 3 housed therein (see still FIG. 3), the minimum radius of curvature of said curved shape being compatible with the flexibility of said coiled flexible cable 3.

[0049] From the above description, the advantageous aspects of the movement device proposed with the present invention are absolutely evident, concerning firstly the great simplicity of construction, with few operating parts of high reliability and, above all, with the most important ones such as the electric gearmotor assembly and the coiled flexible cable already available on the market at a low price, without requiring investments in equipment, moulds, prototypes and everything necessary for a correct industrialization of a product.

[0050] In addition to this, a particularly compact retractable platform is obtained in depth, minimizing possible interference with mechanical parts present in the underbody of the vehicles on which it is mounted; thus ensuring maximum compatibility with the various models and manufacturers of the vehicles.

[0051] Another advantageous aspect inherent in the choice of such a gearmotor assembly and the relative coiled flexible cable relates to the fact that there are no design constraints to the variation of the step extraction stroke, as in other kinematic mechanisms, whereby ample possibility is obtained to vary such a parameter as a function of each specific need.

[0052] The use of commercial components allows to considerably streamline the management of spare parts for any maintenance, for the benefit of both the retractable platform manufacturer and the customer.

[0053] The operating modes of the parts actuating the movement of the extractable step, and the peculiar construction features thereof, give the retractable platform greater reliability than similar known products, even in difficult weather conditions and/or when subjected to sprays of water, snow, mud or the formation of ice.

[0054] It is understood, however, that the foregoing is of exemplary and non-limiting value, therefore any variations of detail, introduced for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered from now on to fall within the same protective scope defined by the following claims.