Vehicle step device

Abstract

To enhance support rigidity of a link mechanism for supporting a step plate in a step device in which the step plate is taken out and stored by interlocking with an opening / closing operation of a slide door.SOLUTION: Support rigidity is enhanced by arranging an auxiliary link arm 23 in addition to a first link arm 21 and a second link arm 22 constituting a four-node link mechanism. A support hole 23c on a rotation tip side of the auxiliary link arm 23 is formed into a long groove hole shape and is made to function as a relief hole for allowing relative displacement in a radial direction of a support shaft 23b, and thereby smooth operations of the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22 constituting the four-node link mechanism are secured. Support rigidity of a first step plate 11 is further enhanced by arranging load receiving sections 24, 25, and 26 in each link arm 21, 22, and 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a step device provided at a door opening of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a sliding step device in which a step plate (footboard) is deployed and stored in conjunction with the opening and closing of a sliding door on the side of a vehicle. With this step device, when the sliding door is opened, the step plate is deployed to the side, making it easier for passengers to get in and out. The step plate is supported at the door opening using a link mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-217965 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of step device, the convenience of passengers getting on and off can be improved by increasing the width of the step plate. In order to increase the step plate's width, it is necessary to further increase the support rigidity of the link mechanism. The object of this invention is to increase the support rigidity of a sliding step plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The above problems are solved by the following inventions. The first invention is a step device provided in a door opening of a vehicle, comprising a step plate extending from the door opening and a link mechanism that supports the step plate so that it can be displaced in a planar direction. The link mechanism comprises at least three link arms. The support hole on the rotation tip side of at least one of the at least three link arms is an elongated slot that allows relative radial displacement of the support shaft inserted into the support hole. Furthermore, at least one of the at least three link arms has a load receiving portion between the support shaft on the rotation tip side and the support shaft on the rotation base side that receives loads applied in both upward and downward directions.

[0006] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the step plate is supported by at least three link arms. This increases the support rigidity of the step plate. For example, a four-bar link mechanism is formed by two of the at least three link arms. The support hole on the rotation tip side of at least one other link arm is formed as an elongated slot, allowing the link mechanism to operate smoothly and the step plate to be extended and retracted. Furthermore, the load applied in the vertical direction to at least one of the at least three link arms is received by the load receiving portion, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the step plate.

[0007] When a person places their feet on the tip of the step plate, a downward load is applied to the tip, and a load is also applied to the back side of the step plate in a direction that lifts it upward. When a person places their feet on the back side of the step plate, a load is also applied to the tip of the step plate in a direction that lifts it upward. Depending on the position of the person's feet, loads are applied to at least three link arms in both vertical directions, centered on the support shaft at the tip of the rotation. These loads in both vertical directions are received by load receiving portions located between the support shaft at the tip of the rotation and the support shaft at the base of the rotation. This increases the support rigidity of the step plate.

[0008] The second invention is the first invention, wherein the at least three link arms are a first link arm that supports one longitudinal end of the step plate, a second link arm that supports the other longitudinal end, and an auxiliary link arm that supports the step plate between the first link arm and the second link arm.

[0009] According to the second invention, the step plate is supported by three link arms. This increases the support rigidity of the step plate compared to a configuration in which the step plate is supported by, for example, two link arms. The first link arm and the second link arm form a four-bar link mechanism. By making the support hole at the tip of the rotation of the auxiliary link arm an elongated slot, the elongated slot functions as an escape hole, ensuring smooth operation of the link mechanism. By adding at least one auxiliary link arm to the four-bar link mechanism, the support structure of the step plate is improved. The auxiliary link arm is not limited to being located between the first link arm and the second link arm, but can be located at a position offset to one end and / or the other end in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the load receiving portion has a lower receiving portion that is in sliding contact with the lower surface of the link arm and an upper receiving portion that is in sliding contact with the upper surface. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the load receiving portion is in sliding contact with both the upper and lower surfaces of the link arm, so that loads in both the vertical directions can be efficiently received by the load receiving portion.

[0011] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the load receiving portion is provided adjacent to the support shaft on the tip side of the rotation. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing the load receiving portion closer to the support shaft on the tip side of the rotation than to the support shaft on the base side of the rotation, the load (both vertical moments around the support shaft) applied to the tip side of the rotation of the link arm when getting on and off can be efficiently received by the load receiving portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3]1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the step device, showing a state in which the sliding door is opened and the step plate is removed. [Figure 4] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the step device, showing a state in which the sliding door is closed and the step plate is stored. [Figure 5] 1 is a plan view of the step device, in which the first step plate in the removal position is shown in solid lines and the first step plate in the storage position is shown in dashed double-dashed lines. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Fig. 1 shows the left side of a so-called minivan-type vehicle 1. A sliding door 2 is provided on, for example, the left side of the vehicle 1. When the sliding door 2 is slid rearward, a door opening 3 is opened. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the sliding door 2 is slid rearward and the door opening 3 is opened. When the sliding door 2 is slid forward, the door opening 3 is closed. In addition to the left side of the vehicle 1, the sliding door 2 may also be provided on the right side.

[0014] Passengers get in and out through door opening 3. Rear seats 6 are provided on floor 4. Although not visible in the diagram, front seats (driver's seat and passenger seat) are provided in front of rear seats 6. A rotating hinged front door 7 is provided in front of sliding door 2. When front door 7 is opened, passengers get in and out and sit in the front seats. The front-to-back, left-to-right, up-and-down directions of each component are applied based on the driver seated in the driver's seat.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a floor step section 5 for getting on and off is provided below the door opening 3, which is one step lower than the floor 4. A movable step device 10 is provided along the bottom of the floor step section 5. The floor step section 5 and step device 10 make it easier for passengers to get on and off.

[0016] The step device 10 comprises a first step plate 11 and a second step plate 12. The first step plate 11 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The first step plate 11 is supported below the floor step portion 5 (rocker panel 9) by a link mechanism 20. The first step plate 11 is supported by the link mechanism 20 so that it can slide in the planar direction. The first step plate 11 is slid to the left (outside the vehicle compartment) and extended to the usage position. The first step plate 11 is slid to the right (inside the vehicle compartment) and stored.

[0017] The first step plate 11 is linked to the sliding door 2 via a linkage arm 8. As a result, the extension and retraction operations of the first step plate 11 are linked to the opening and closing operations of the sliding door 2. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, when the sliding door 2 is slid rearward to open the door opening 3, the first step plate 11 is extended to the use position. When the sliding door 2 is slid forward to close the door opening 3 as shown in Figure 4, the first step plate 11 is slid inside the vehicle cabin and retracted below the rocker panel 9.

[0018] A second step plate 12 is provided to cover the upper surface side of the first step plate 11. The first step plate 11 can be extended from below the second step plate 12 to a usage position outside the vehicle cabin, allowing passengers to straddle both the first step plate 11 and the second step plate 12 and place their feet on them. This ensures that the step device 10 has a large step width in the vehicle width direction, making it highly convenient for passengers getting on and off.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, the link mechanism 20 has a first link arm 21, a second link arm 22, and an auxiliary link arm 23. The first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22 form a four-joint link mechanism. The base end of the rotation of the first link arm 21 is rotatably supported on the rocker panel 9 via a support shaft 21a. The tip end of the rotation of the first link arm 21 is rotatably supported on the front underside of the first step plate 11 via a support shaft 21b. The base end of the rotation of the second link arm 22 is rotatably supported on the rocker panel 9 via a support shaft 22a. The tip end of the rotation of the second link arm 22 is rotatably supported on the rear underside of the first step plate 11 via a support shaft 22b.

[0020] An auxiliary link arm 23 is supported between the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22. The auxiliary link arm 23 has a long strip shape like the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22. The auxiliary link arm 23 is disposed between the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22. A rotation base end side of the auxiliary link arm 23 is rotatably supported on the rocker panel 9 via a support shaft 23a. A rotation tip end side of the auxiliary link arm 23 is rotatably supported on the underside of the first step plate 11 via a support shaft 23b.

[0021] A slot-shaped support hole 23c is provided at the rotation tip of the auxiliary link arm 23. The support shaft 23b at the rotation tip is inserted into this support hole 23c via upper and lower sleeves 23d. Therefore, relative radial displacement of the support shaft 23b within the support hole 23c is permitted as the auxiliary link arm 23 rotates. As the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22, which constitute the four-bar link mechanism, rotate, the support shaft 23b can rotate around its axis within the support hole 23c and undergo relative radial displacement, thereby permitting the rotation of the auxiliary link arm 23. The support hole 23c functions as a relief hole, permitting the rotation of the auxiliary link arm 23. As a result, the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22 rotate without resistance, allowing the first step plate 11 to move smoothly in parallel between the extended position and the retracted position.

[0022] When a person steps on or off the first step board 11, the load applied from above to the first step board 11 is received by three link arms: a first link arm 21, a second link arm 22, and an auxiliary link arm 23.

[0023] Load receiving portions 24, 25, and 26 are provided on the rotation tip side of each of the first link arm 21, the second link arm 22, and the auxiliary link arm 23. The three load receiving portions 24, 25, and 26 have the same configuration. As shown in Figure 6, the load receiving portion 26 provided on the rotation tip side of the auxiliary link arm 23 will be described as an example.

[0024] The rotating tip side of auxiliary link arm 23 is supported on the underside of first step plate 11 via support shaft 23b. When a person's foot rests on first step plate 11 outside the vehicle cabin of support shaft 23b, a load P1 is applied to auxiliary link arm 23, with its center approximately at the longitudinal center C of support shaft 23b. When a person's foot rests on first step plate 11 inside the vehicle cabin of support shaft 23b, a load P2 is applied to auxiliary link arm 23, with its center approximately at the longitudinal center C of support shaft 23b.

[0025] A load P1 in the clockwise direction as shown and a load P2 in the counterclockwise direction as shown, which are centered approximately on the longitudinal center C of support shaft 23b, are received by load receiving portion 26. Load receiving portion 26 is disposed adjacent to support shaft 23b and approximately on the passenger compartment inside side of support shaft 23b (between support shafts 23a and 23b).

[0026] The load receiving portion 26 has a lower receiving portion 26b that is in sliding contact with the lower surface of the auxiliary link arm 23, and an upper receiving portion 26a that is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the auxiliary link arm 23. The upper receiving portion 26a and the lower receiving portion 26b are in sliding contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the auxiliary link arm 23, respectively, so as to be relatively displaceable in the horizontal direction (the rotation direction of the auxiliary link arm 23).

[0027] The load receiving portion 26 has a generally U-shape in side view. Therefore, the distance between the upper receiving portion 26a and the lower receiving portion 26b is fixed at a distance necessary and sufficient to accommodate the auxiliary link arm 23. The upper receiving portion 26a is immovably abutted against the underside of the first step plate 11. The relative position of the load receiving portion 26 with respect to the first step plate 11 does not change. Therefore, the relative position of the support shaft 23b and the load receiving portion 26 also does not change.

[0028] The lower receiving portion 26b of the load receiving portion 26 receives a load P1 in the clockwise direction around the center C of the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 23b. The upper receiving portion 26a of the load receiving portion 26 receives a load P2 in the counterclockwise direction around the center C of the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 23b. The loads P1 and P2 applied to the first step plate 11 when getting on and off are received by the load receiving portion 26, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the auxiliary link arm 23.

[0029] Similarly, when getting on or off the vehicle, loads P1 and P2 applied around the support shaft 21b of the first link arm 21 and loads P1 and P2 applied around the support shaft 22b of the second link arm 22 are received by the load receiving portions 24 and 25, respectively. This increases the supporting rigidity of the first step plate 11 by the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22.

[0030] According to the embodiment configured as described above, the first step plate 11 is supported by three link arms (first link arm 21, second link arm 22, and auxiliary link arm 23). This increases the support rigidity of the first step plate 11. In this embodiment, the first link arm 21 and the second link arm form a four-joint link mechanism. The support hole 23c on the rotation tip side of the auxiliary link arm 23 is formed as an elongated slot, so that the link mechanism 20 operates smoothly and the first step plate 11 is extended to the use position and conversely stored in the storage position.

[0031] According to this embodiment, the loads P1 and P2 applied to the first link arm 21, the second link arm 22, and the auxiliary link arm 23 are received by the load receiving portions 24, 25, and 26. This increases the support rigidity of the first step plate 11.

[0032] When a person places their feet on the tip end of the first step board 11, a downward load P1 is applied to the tip end, and a load P2 is also applied to the rear end of the first step board 11 in a direction that lifts it upward. When a person places their feet on the rear end of the first step board 11, a load P2 is applied to the tip end of the first step board 11 in a direction that lifts it upward. Depending on the position of the person's feet, loads P1 and P2 are applied to the three link arms 21, 22, and 23 in both vertical directions about the longitudinal center C of the support shafts 21b, 22b, and 23b on the pivot tip end side. These loads P1 and P2 in both vertical directions are received by the load receiving portions 24, 25, and 26. This increases the support rigidity of the first step board 11.

[0033] According to the embodiment, the load receiving portions 24, 25, 26 have lower receiving portions 24b, 25b, 26b that come into sliding contact with the lower surfaces of the link arms 21, 22, 23, and upper receiving portions 24a, 25a, 26a that come into sliding contact with the upper surfaces. As a result, the three link arms 21, 22, 23 are sandwiched in the thickness direction by the load receiving portions 24, 25, 26, respectively, and loads P1, P2 in both the vertical direction (thickness direction) can be efficiently received.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the load receiving portions 24, 25, 26 are provided closer to the support shafts 21b, 22b, 23b on the tip side of the rotation than to the support shafts 21a, 22a, 23a on the base side of the rotation. This allows the load receiving portions 24, 25, 26 to efficiently receive the loads P1, P2 (both vertical moments about the longitudinal center C of the support shafts 21b, 22b, 23b) applied to the tip side of the rotation of each link arm 21, 22, 23 during getting on and off.

[0035] Various modifications can be made to the embodiment described above. For example, although the configuration in which the auxiliary link arm 23 is disposed between the first link arm 21 and the second link arm 22 has been exemplified, it may be disposed in front of the first link arm 21 and / or behind the second link arm 22.

[0036] Although the configuration in which one auxiliary link arm 23 is added to the first link arm 21 and second link arm 22 that make up the four-bar link mechanism has been exemplified, a configuration in which two or more auxiliary link arms are provided may also be used. By providing each auxiliary link arm with the support hole 23c in the elongated slot shape shown in the example, it is possible to further increase the support rigidity of the first step plate 11 while ensuring smooth operation of the four-bar link mechanism made up of the first link arm 21 and second link arm 22.

[0037] Although the configuration in which the load receiving portions 24, 25, 26 are arranged on all of the three link arms 21, 22, 23 has been exemplified, the load receiving portions may be omitted from some of the link arms.

[0038] Although the configuration in which one load receiving portion 24, 25, 26 is arranged for each of the link arms 21, 22, 23 has been exemplified, a configuration in which a load is received by a plurality of load receiving portions for one link arm may also be used.

[0039] The second step plate 12 may be omitted. The auxiliary link arm 23 exemplified for the step device having one movable step plate can be applied.

[0040] Although the example shows a step device 10 installed in the left door opening 3 of the vehicle 1, the link mechanism 20 of the first step plate 11 shown as an example for a step device installed in the right door opening or rear opening can also be applied. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...Vehicle 2...Sliding door 3...Door opening 4...Floor 5...Floor step section 6...Back seat 7...Front door 8...Linked arm 9...Rocker panel 10...Step device 11...First step board 12...Second step board 20...Link mechanism 21...First link arm 21a, 21b…Spindle 22...Second link arm 22a, 22b…Spindle 23...Auxiliary link arm 23a, 23b…Spindle 23c...Support hole (long groove hole), 23d...Sleeve 24, 25...Load receiving part 26...Load receiving part 26a...Upper receiving part, 26b...Lower receiving part

Claims

1. A step device provided at a door opening of a vehicle, a step plate extending from the door opening; a link mechanism that supports the step plate so that it can be displaced in a planar direction; The link mechanism includes at least three link arms; a support hole on a rotation tip side of at least one of the at least three link arms is an elongated slot that allows a radial relative displacement of a support shaft inserted into the support hole; At least one of the at least three link arms has a load receiving portion between the support shaft on the tip end side of the rotation and the support shaft on the base end side of the rotation, the load receiving portion receiving a load applied in both the up and down directions, the load receiving portion has a U-shape in side view, and includes a lower receiving portion that is in sliding contact with the lower surface of the link arm and an upper receiving portion that is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the link arm, The load receiving portion is immovably provided on the step plate and is in sliding contact with the link arm so as to be relatively displaceable.

2. 2. The step device of claim 1, The at least three link arms are a first link arm that supports one longitudinal end of the step plate, a second link arm that supports the other longitudinal end, and an auxiliary link arm that supports the step plate between the first link arm and the second link arm.

3. 3. The step device according to claim 1 or 2, The step device wherein the load receiving portion is provided adjacent to the support shaft on the tip side of the rotation.

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