Vehicle Side Bar Hollow Frame Step Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle side bars, typically straight tubular products with a step assembly, have low resistance and tend to deform, making them inconvenient for users to enter or exit raised vehicles like SUVs or pickup trucks, and lack structural strength for protection.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side bar design featuring a supporting frame formed by interconnected straight and bent tubes, with a step integrated within the hollow space, providing enhanced structural strength and user accessibility, and optionally including additional structural elements and features like sliding preventers and lighting for improved functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a straight tubular side bar with step assembly is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the resistance is low and it tends to deform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the side bar structure by using bent tubes instead of straight tubes. The bent tube configuration creates a more complex geometric shape that inherently provides better structural rigidity and resistance to deformation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard bending processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The side bar is divided into multiple segments including straight tubes, bent tubes, and step assemblies that are connected together. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately and then assembled, maintaining ease of manufacture while the combined segmented structure provides enhanced overall strength and resistance.
2Device complexity
If a straight tubular side bar with step assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but it provides insufficient support for user accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The bent tube configuration creates an angled support structure that provides better geometric support for the step assembly. This curved geometry naturally creates a more favorable angle for user footing and better structural support, improving ease of operation without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces angular and three-dimensional elements through the bent tubes, transitioning from a simple linear straight tube structure to a multi-dimensional configuration. This adds vertical and angular support dimensions that enhance user accessibility and comfort while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
3Strength
If additional structural elements like bent tubes are added to enhance strength, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side bar is segmented into modular components (straight tubes, bent tubes, step assemblies) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows the complex strong structure to be built from simpler individual parts, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements (support structure, step assembly, mounting brackets) are merged into a single integrated side bar system. This combining of functions into one unified structure improves structural integrity while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle side bar for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle side bar includes: a first bar; a second bar connected to the first bar, wherein the first bar and the second bar cooperatively form a supporting frame defining a hollow space; and a step engaged in the hollow, configured to be mounted on the supporting frame. The vehicle side bar provides a robust step configuration to assist the driver or the passenger in entering or existing the vehicle.