Modular Side Rail With Offset Step Mounts For Elevated Vehicle Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with elevated ground clearance, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, pose challenges for entry and exit due to increased height, and their lower body panels are susceptible to damage from debris, necessitating a versatile side rail and step system that can fit various vehicle types and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A modular side rail and removable step system featuring a channel-shaped side rail main body with mounting brackets and offset step attachment arrangements, allowing for multiple step configurations and easy installation on vehicles, with steps that can be added or removed to adapt to different vehicle door positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different side rails and steps are manufactured to fit each specific vehicle type, then the system can properly accommodate different vehicle configurations, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side rail system is designed with multiple attachment positions along its length, allowing a single universal side rail to accommodate different vehicle types and door configurations. The side rail can be mounted at various locations and configured with different step arrangements to suit SUVs, pickup trucks, and other elevated vehicles, eliminating the need for multiple specialized rail designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The side rail system is divided into modular components including the side rail main body, mounting brackets, and separate step elements. This segmentation allows for flexible configuration where steps can be attached at different positions and the entire system can be adapted to various vehicle types without requiring complete redesign of the entire side rail assembly.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If side rails are designed to protect lower body panels from damage, then vehicle protection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The side rail system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides protective barriers against debris and rocks, offers stepped surfaces for easier vehicle entry and exit, and can be configured to protect specific vulnerable areas of different vehicle types. The universal mounting design allows the same protective structure to be adapted to various vehicle configurations without requiring complex vehicle-specific designs.
3Length of moving object
If the floor height is increased for elevated vehicles, then ground clearance is improved, but the ease of operation for entering and exiting the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side rail system adds a vertical dimension to the entry problem by providing stepped surfaces at intermediate heights between the ground and the vehicle floor. This creates a gradual transition pathway that reduces the effective height barrier, allowing easier access to elevated vehicles while maintaining the necessary ground clearance for off-road capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular side rail and removable step system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one aspect, the kit includes first, second, and third removable steps that may be mounted to the side rail. In one aspect, the side rail main body has a channel-shape defining a longitudinal opening between an adjacent first side and an adjacent second side. A plurality of step attachment arrangements may be provided on the first side of the side rail main body to allow the first, second, and third steps to be mounted to the side rail main body in various configurations. For example the plurality of step attachment arrangements may be arranged and configured to provide attachment locations for mounting the first and third removable steps in a first step assembly configuration and for mounting the second removable step in a second step assembly configuration.