Grille-Step Assembly for Vehicle Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current grille guards on vehicles obstruct access to engine components under the hood, particularly on lifted trucks with large tires, making it difficult for mechanics to perform maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A grille-step assembly that is mountable to a vehicle frame, featuring a grille frame with opposed brackets and a step assembly with crossbars, allowing the step to pivot or slide between closed and open positions to provide access to the engine area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grille guard is installed to protect the radiator grille and front bumper, then vehicle protection is improved, but access to engine components under the hood deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grille guard incorporates a movable step assembly that can transition between a retracted position (when not in use) and an extended position (when access is needed). This dynamic element allows the grille guard to adapt its configuration, providing protection when closed and access when opened, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining vehicle protection and enabling engine access.
Solution Approach 2:
The grille guard is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides protective coverage for the radiator grille and front bumper, and simultaneously serves as a step structure to facilitate access to the engine compartment. The integrated step assembly becomes part of the protective grille structure, allowing the same component to fulfill both protective and access-providing roles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle is lifted with large tires to improve off-road capability, then off-road performance is improved, but access to engine components under the hood deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable step assembly allows the grille guard to dynamically adjust its configuration based on operational needs. When off-road capability is prioritized, the grille remains closed for protection. When engine access is needed, the step assembly extends to provide access, accommodating both off-road performance requirements and maintenance accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the step assembly is made movable to provide access, then ease of access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grille guard is segmented into distinct functional components: the main protective grille structure and the separate movable step assembly. This segmentation allows the step assembly to be independently operated and maintained, reducing the complexity impact on the overall system while still providing the desired accessibility function.
Data Source
AI summary
A grille-step assembly mounted on a vehicle includes a vehicle having a vehicle frame and a grille-step assembly secured to the frame. The grille-step assembly includes a grille frame secured to the vehicle frame. The grille frame has opposed grille brackets with at least one bar connecting the opposed grille brackets to one another and a step assembly. The step assembly includes opposed step brackets having a bottom crossbar and a step crossbar that connect the opposed step brackets to one another. The assembly is releasably mounted so that in a closed position both the bottom crossbar and the step crossbar are positioned between the opposed grille brackets, and in an open position one of the bottom crossbar and step crossbar is positioned away from the opposed grille brackets.