Patent ID: 6955370
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A retractable running board assembly for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a door opening for permitting a person to enter and exit the passenger compartment, the assembly comprising: an anchor constructed and arranged to mount the running board assembly to the vehicle in an operative position beneath the door opening; an elongated retractable running board; and a running board moving assembly comprising: at least first and second selectively-actuated links connected to the anchor and movably supporting the running board at longitudinally spaced apart positions, the links being constructed and arranged such that, when the running board assembly is mounted in the operative position, concerted actuation of each of the selectively-actuated links moves the running board in extending and retracting directions between (a) an extended position wherein the running board is extended outwardly from the vehicle away from the door opening at an elevation lower than the door opening and spaced above ground level for facilitating entry into the passenger compartment via the door opening and (b) a retracted position wherein the running board is retracted inwardly and raised upwardly from the extended position, the extending and retracting directions having both vertical and horizontal components; and a selectively-operable driving mechanism comprising a transmission having (a) a worm gear to which a driving force is applied and (b) a worm wheel meshed with the worm gear and operatively connected to each of the first and second selectively-actuated links such that, when the running board assembly is mounted in the operative position, selective operation of the driving mechanism rotates the worm wheel to concertedly actuate each of the selectively-actuated links to move the running board between the retracted and extended positions; and wherein rotation of the worm gear by the driving force in one direction rotates the worm wheel to move the running board in the extending direction to the extended position, and in the other direction rotates the worm wheel to move the running board in the retracting direction to the retracted position; wherein the meshing between the worm gear and the worm wheel prevents a downward force applied to the running board from rotating the worm wheel, thus limiting the running board from being moved by the downward force.