Vehicle steps

Abstract

To realize a step of a vehicle which prevents an occupant from feeling discomfort even when the step is heated to a high temperature.SOLUTION: A step 10 of a vehicle 1 is stored in a lower side of the vehicle 1 and moved to an outer side as seen in a vehicle width direction when used. Further, a part of the step is exposed to the outer side as seen in the vehicle width direction relative to a side surface of the vehicle 1 in a plan view of the vehicle 1. An upper surface directed upward and a side surface directed to the outer side as seen in the vehicle width direction of the part exposed during the used are covered with a heat insulation material. Covering the upper surface and the side surface with the heat insulation material prevents the upper surface and the side surface of the step from being heated to a high temperature. Thus, even if the skin of an occupant contacts with the step when the occupant gets into / off the vehicle, the structure can effectively prevent the occupant from feeling discomfort.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a step for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles equipped with steps have been proposed to assist passengers getting on and off the vehicle. Vehicle steps are generally attached below the entrance and exit doors and are stored under the vehicle body when not in use. When a passenger uses the step to get on or off the vehicle, the step is extended from the stored position to the side of the vehicle body (exposed outward in the vehicle width direction).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle structure equipped with a step structure for assisting passengers getting on and off the vehicle. The step structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a footboard. The footboard is the part on which passengers place their feet when getting on and off the vehicle, and examples of materials for the footboard include metal such as steel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-185938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If the step stored under the vehicle body is close to the exhaust pipe, heat from the exhaust pipe can be transferred to the step, which can become very hot. Metal footplates are particularly prone to high temperatures. When passengers get on or off the vehicle, their skin may come into direct or indirect contact with the step. If skin comes into contact with the hot step, the step, which is meant to assist the passenger, can actually cause discomfort.

[0006] Therefore, this specification discloses a vehicle step that does not cause discomfort to passengers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle step disclosed in this specification is a vehicle step that is stored under the vehicle, and when in use, is moved outward in the vehicle width direction, and when viewed from above, a portion of the step is exposed outward in the vehicle width direction from the side of the vehicle, and is characterized in that of the portion exposed when in use, the upper surface facing upward and the side surface facing outward in the vehicle width direction are covered with insulating material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the vehicle step disclosed in this specification, the upper surface facing upward and the side surface facing outward in the vehicle width direction, which are exposed during use, are covered with a heat insulating material, so that the upper surface and the side surface are less likely to become hot. Therefore, even if the skin of a passenger comes into contact with the step when getting on or off the vehicle, the passenger can be effectively prevented from feeling uncomfortable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a vehicle undercarriage including a step main body portion. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step body covered with heat insulating material. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The step main body provided in the vehicle undercarriage will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, "Fr," "Up," and "W" indicate the front, top, and width directions of the vehicle, respectively. FIG. 1 is a right side view of the undercarriage 2 of a vehicle 1 equipped with a step main body 10. The undercarriage 2 is equipped with the step main body 10, which is attached below the door 200 and stored under the vehicle body when not in use. The undercarriage 2 further includes front arms 20, 22, a rear arm 30, a connecting portion 40, and a motor 50 (see FIG. 3). In addition to the rear arm 30, the undercarriage 2 also includes one rear arm (not shown) as a member corresponding to the front arm 22.

[0011] Next, the step main body 10 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the step main body 10 covered with a heat insulating material 12. The step main body 10 is the part on which a passenger places their feet when getting on and off the vehicle. The step main body 10 in this example is made of metal.

[0012] When not in use, the step main body 10 is stored under the vehicle body. When a passenger uses the step main body 10 to get in and out of the vehicle, the step main body 10 moves from the stored position to the outside in the vehicle width direction (exposed). The step main body 10 moves between the underside of the vehicle body and the outside by driving a motor 50 (described later). The step main body 10 shown in FIG. 2 is shown in a state when the step main body 10 is used by a passenger, i.e., exposed to the outside in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, only about two-thirds of the step main body 10 is exposed to the outside from the vehicle side wall 100 when in use. In the step main body 10 disclosed in this specification, this exposed portion is covered with a heat insulating material 12. In FIG. 2, the surface indicated by black hatching is the portion covered with the heat insulating material 12. Note that "covered with the heat insulating material 12" is a broad concept that includes being painted with a heat insulating material, being fitted with a heat insulating protector, and the like. Various resins can be used as the heat insulating material. For example, a heat-resistant resin such as polyimide is suitable. Furthermore, the insulating material is not necessarily limited to resin; inorganic materials can also be used. For example, an insulating sheet made of glass wool or ceramic fiber can be bonded with an epoxy adhesive. The step body 10 and each part of the substructure 2, both covered with the insulating material 12, will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. The step main body 10, indicated by a solid line, is exposed to the outside in the vehicle width direction. The front arms 20 and 22 are attached to the front side surface of the step main body 10 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, while the rear arm 30 (see FIG. 1) and another rear arm (not shown) are attached to the rear side surface of the step main body 10 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The front arm 20 and the rear arm 30, as well as the front arm 22 and the rear arm (not shown) have the same configuration and function, and therefore only the front arms 20 and 22 shown in FIG. 3 will be described here. The front arm 20 is attached to the connecting portion 40 at its base end and attached to the front side surface of the step main body 10 at its tip end. The front arm 22 is indirectly connected to the output shaft of the motor 50 at its base end and attached to the front side surface of the step main body 10 at its tip end. The front arms 20 and 22 function as members that support the step main body 10.

[0014] As described above, the front arms 20, 22 are driven by the motor 50. That is, the power of the motor 50 is transmitted to the front arm 22, which is indirectly connected to the output shaft of the motor 50. By driving the motor 50, the front arm 22 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the motor 50. Furthermore, the connecting portion 40 has a connecting portion gear (not shown) that meshes with a motor gear (not shown) fixed to the output shaft of the motor 50. Therefore, by driving the motor 50, the front arm 20 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the motor 50. That is, the two front arms 20, 22 rotate in synchronization via the motor 50. By this rotation of the front arms 20, 22, the step main body 10 can be moved between a stored position (under the vehicle body) and an exposed position (outside), i.e., can be extended or retracted.

[0015] The movement of the two forearms 20, 22 will be further explained. Straight lines L1, L2 connecting the rotation centers on the base ends of the forearms 20, 22 and the attachment positions on the tip ends are parallel and of the same length. Therefore, the movement trajectory T1 of the forearm 20 and the movement trajectory T2 of the forearm 22 are offset horizontally by a distance D1, and the horizontal distance D1 between the movement trajectories T1, T2 is always constant. With this configuration, when the two forearms 20, 22 rotate in sync, the step main body 10 automatically moves in and out along an arc while maintaining a horizontal position.

[0016] Next, the step main body 10 is covered with the heat insulating material 12. The step main body 10, indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 , is stored under the vehicle body. Since the stored position of the step main body 10 is close to the exhaust pipe 60, heat from the exhaust pipe 60 is easily transferred to the step main body 10. When the step main body 10 is made of metal, as in this example, heat from the exhaust pipe 60 is particularly easily transferred. For example, after the vehicle 1 has been traveling for a long time, the step main body 10 becomes hot. Meanwhile, generally, when a passenger gets on or off the vehicle, their calves may come into contact with the side of the step main body 10, or their sandals or other footwear may slip and come into contact with the top surface of the step main body 10. Even if the skin does not come into direct contact with the step main body 10, a part of the passenger's body may come into contact with the top or side surface of the step main body 10 through their clothing. In such cases, contact with the hot step main body 10 can cause discomfort to the passenger.

[0017] However, in the step main body 10 disclosed in this specification, the portions that come into direct or indirect contact with the occupant's skin, i.e., the upper surface facing upward and the side surfaces facing outward in the vehicle width direction among the exposed portions of the step main body 10, are covered with the thermal insulation material 12. By covering a portion of the step main body 10 with the thermal insulation material 12 in this way, when the occupant's skin comes into contact with the step main body 10, the contact is between the thermal insulation material and the skin, not between the metal and the skin. Therefore, by changing the contact portion from the commonly used metal to the thermal insulation material, the thermal effusivity can be reduced, and even if the occupant's skin comes into contact with the step main body 10 when getting on or off, the occupant's discomfort can be effectively prevented.

[0018] The above description is merely an example. It is sufficient that at least the upper surface facing upward and the side surface facing outward in the vehicle width direction of the exposed portion of the step main body 10 during use are covered with the insulating material 12. Therefore, the configuration of the other parts of the substructure 2 may be modified as appropriate. For example, in this example, the exposed portion of the step main body 10 is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped, but the shape of the step main body 10 is not limited to the illustrated shape. Furthermore, the step main body 10 does not necessarily have to be formed as a single level, but may instead have two levels, one above the other. Furthermore, in the above description, the upper surface facing upward and the side surface facing outward in the vehicle width direction of the exposed portion of the step main body 10 are covered with insulating material, while the other portions are not. However, the other portions may also be covered with insulating material. For example, at least one of the front end surface, the rear end surface, the bottom surface, the inner side surface in the vehicle width direction, and the top surface of the unexposed portion of the step main body 10 may be further covered with insulating material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 1 vehicle, 2 undercarriage, 10 step body, 12 insulation, 20, 22 front arm, 30 rear arm, 40 linkage, 50 motor, 60 exhaust pipe, 100 vehicle side wall, 200 door.

Claims

1. A vehicle step that is stored under a vehicle and, when in use, is moved outward in a vehicle width direction, and is partly exposed outward in the vehicle width direction from a side surface of the vehicle in a plan view of the vehicle, Of the portion exposed during use, an upper surface facing upward and a side surface facing outward in the vehicle width direction are covered with a heat insulating material, The step is a metal plate of a size that allows the passenger's feet to rest on it, When the step is retracted, the base end of the step is located near the exhaust pipe; When in use, approximately two-thirds of the step is exposed to the outside from the vehicle side wall; Approximately two-thirds of the upper surface of the step that is exposed to the outside is covered with the heat insulating material, and the remaining approximately one-third is not covered with the heat insulating material. A step for a vehicle.

2. A step for the vehicle according to claim 1, The step for a vehicle is further characterized in that the front and rear end surfaces of the step are covered with the heat insulating material.

3. A step for the vehicle according to claim 1, A step for a vehicle, wherein the heat insulating material is polyimide, glass wool, or ceramic fiber.

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