Integrated Pickup Truck Step Assembly Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for accessing the front portion of a pickup truck cargo box, such as running boards and fold-down steps, are not universally available and often provide limited access, and integrated steps can alter the body style and require specific shapes and materials.
Innovation Solution
An integrated step assembly is designed for a pickup truck cargo box, featuring a base member with cross sills and side panel members, where step supports are coupled to these sills, and a step member extends between them, providing access without altering the cargo box's shape or requiring additional reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If running boards or fold-down steps are installed, then access to the cargo box is provided, but these solutions are not universally available and provide only limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The step assembly is designed to be universally applicable to various cargo box types by coupling to existing cross sills rather than requiring specific body styles. The step supports can be attached to different cross sill configurations, making the solution adaptable to multiple vehicle models and cargo box designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The step assembly is divided into separate components: step supports that couple to cross sills and step members that provide access. This segmentation allows the step supports to be universally mounted while the step members can be configured for optimal access, resolving the contradiction between universal availability and effective access provision.
2Ease of operation
If steps are integrated into outer body panels, then access is improved, but the body style is altered and specific shapes and materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The step assembly is extracted from the body panel integration approach and repositioned to couple to the cross sills. This extraction removes the need to alter body styles or require specific shapes and materials, while still providing improved access to the cargo box through the decoupled step member design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross sills serve as an intermediary structure between the cargo box and the step assembly. By coupling step supports to the cross sills rather than directly integrating into body panels, the solution mediates between providing access and preserving the original body style, eliminating the need for specific shapes and materials.
3Ease of operation
If step side trucks are used, then access is provided, but they provide only limited access to front portions and require specific cargo box configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The step assembly is designed with step supports that can couple to various cross sill configurations found in different cargo box types. This universal coupling capability eliminates the need for specific cargo box configurations while providing expanded access to front portions through the positioned step members.
4Strength
If integrated steps are tied into braces extending from cross sills, then structural support is provided, but the body style is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The step assembly is extracted from the body panel integration and repositioned to couple to cross sills. This extraction maintains structural support by utilizing the existing cross sill framework while removing the impact on body style, as the step members are decoupled from the side panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross sills act as an intermediary structure that provides structural support for the step assembly without requiring integration into the body panels. This intermediary approach maintains the strength and structural integrity provided by cross sill integration while eliminating the aesthetic impact on body style.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo box for a vehicle includes a base member having a first edge portion, a second edge portion, a first side edge portion and an opposing second side edge portion. A first cross sill extends across the base member. A second cross sill extends across the base member. A side panel member is coupled to the base member along one of the first and second side edge portions. The side panel member includes an opening. A step assembly includes a first step support coupled to the first cross sill, a second step support coupled to the second cross sill and at least one step member coupled to and extending between the first step support and second step support. The step member is arranged at the opening in the side panel member. The step member is decoupled from the side panel member.