Patent ID: 6325397
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A power retractable running board assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:a substantially sealed housing assembly;a running board having a parallel linkage pivotally mounting the running board on a vehicle for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis between a stored position beneath the vehicle and a deployed position extending outwardly of the vehicle, said running board presenting an upper load carrying surface;a gear assembly disposed in said sealed housing assembly and coupled to an arm of said parallel linkage,a motor assembly drivingly coupled with said gear assembly, said motor assembly being operable to drive said gear assembly to pivot said running board and thereby drive said running board between said deployed and stored positions, anda stop structure positioned to engage said arm of said linkage when said running board is in said deployed position, said stop structure including a movable structure disposed at a position of interface between said stop structure and said arm when said arm is in said deployed position and a spring member that biases said movable structure towards a first position in which said movable structure prevents movement of said arm beyond said deployed position, said movable structure being movable against the biasing action of said spring member to a second position in which said movable structure permits movement of the arm beyond said deployed position when an external force applied to said running board exceeds a threshold amount.