Vehicle Retractable Step Assembly with Restricting Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle retractable step assemblies lack a reliable mechanism to permanently or temporarily prevent movement, which can lead to operational inefficiencies or safety concerns, especially in commercial vehicles where the step assembly may malfunction or not provide desired convenience.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle retractable step assembly featuring a support member, support arms, and a restricting assembly that includes frangible blocks and vibration dampening members, allowing for the attachment to the vehicle body to limit or prevent pivoting movement of the step member, enabling temporary or permanent locking in specific orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a retractable step assembly is designed to be fully movable between retracted and extended orientations, then passenger convenience and accessibility are improved, but the risk of malfunction and safety hazards increases when the mechanism fails or is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the movable step assembly's state through the restricting assembly. The restricting assembly changes the parameter of movement freedom from 'fully movable' to 'restricted or fixed', allowing the system to transition between operational states. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the step to provide convenience when needed while preventing safety hazards when malfunctioning or not required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If no restricting mechanism is installed, then the step assembly maintains full mobility and functionality, but the vehicle cannot operate safely when the step assembly malfunctions or is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the step assembly system into functional components: the movable step assembly and the restricting assembly. This segmentation allows independent control of mobility and restriction functions. The restricting assembly can be selectively applied to specific portions of the step assembly's range of motion, enabling safety assurance without compromising overall operational flexibility when the restricting assembly is not installed or is configured to allow movement.
3Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is installed to prevent movement, then safety and malfunction prevention are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the complexity from the step assembly's internal mechanism and replacing it with an external, simple restricting assembly. Instead of modifying the complex existing linkage and actuation mechanisms, the solution extracts the restriction function into a separate, easily installed component that can be attached externally. This dramatically reduces installation complexity while maintaining effective malfunction prevention.
4Reliability
If the step assembly is permanently fixed to prevent movement, then safety is improved, but the ability to provide passenger assistance when needed is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a reversible restriction system. The restricting assembly is designed to be temporarily installable and removable, allowing the step assembly to dynamically transition between restricted and unrestricted states. This enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements: providing safety through restriction when malfunctioning or not needed, and providing passenger assistance through full mobility when functioning properly and required.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle retractable step assembly includes a support member, a support arm, a step member and a restricting assembly. The support member is configured to attach to a vehicle body structure. The support arm has a first end and a second end. The first end is supported to the support member for pivoting movement with respect to the support member. The step member is attached to the second end of the support arm for pivotal movement relative to the second end of the support arm between a retracted orientation where the step member is located adjacent to the support member and an extended orientation where the step member is spaced apart from the support member. The restricting assembly is releasably attached to the support member and positioned to prevent pivoting movement of the support arm relative to the support member.