Abstract:
A control mechanism for a powered running board on an automotive vehicle, such as a sport utility vehicle, utilizes the memory function of the vehicle to store therein established operating positions for the running board. The user or occupant of the vehicle can manually position the powered running board to a convenient operating position within a range of available operating positions on the vehicle. By storing the selected position of the running board in the memory function of the vehicle, the control mechanism can return to that same operating height each time the occupant seeks to use the running board for entry or exit of the vehicle. The control mechanism is operable with different configurations of running boards and with different power devices for effecting the movement of the running board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The popularity of sport utility vehicles and other four wheel drive vehicles has shown a substantial increase recently. Because of the high ground clearance for these four wheel drive vehicles, the floor of the vehicle is at a higher elevation above the ground than for two wheel drive sedans or other typical passenger vehicle. Accordingly, some people experience difficulty in gaining access to and egress from the high clearance four wheel drive vehicle.  
         [0002]     Running boards have been used to provide assistance for entering and exiting four wheel drive, or other high ground clearance vehicles. Typically, running boards have a stationary step rigidly mounted to the frame of the vehicle to provide a step between the ground level and the floor level of the vehicle. However, appropriately positioning a stationary running board to provide a convenient step for the occupant of the vehicle will normally result in a reduced ground clearance for the vehicle; therefore, stationary steps are typically positioned at a location that is too high to be convenient for the occupant. Furthermore, stationary running boards can be considered a detriment to vehicle styling as the stationary running board typically increases vehicle width and provides only a small step for use by the occupant of the vehicle.  
         [0003]     Movable running boards have been provided, such as is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,626, issued to Patrick K. McDonald, et al on Dec. 16, 1997, in which the running board is pivotally supported on the frame of the vehicle and connected to a bell crank to pivotally move the step portion of a running board vertically between a raised retracted position and a lowered operating position. Powered movement of the running boards has also been provided, as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,397, issued to David M. Pascoe, et al on Dec. 4, 2001. In this Pascoe patent, the running board is mounted on parallel linkages, which are coupled to an electric motor to effect a powered pivotal movement of the running board between a stored position and a deployed position. An electronic control unit is provided in the Pascoe patent to control the movement of the running board between the stored and deployed positions in conjunction with the opening of the vehicle door.  
         [0004]     Another control device for retractable stairways on trucks and the like can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,364 issued to Paul J. Delurey, et al on Jan. 23, 2001. This Delurey control apparatus monitors one or more vehicle status conditions to require a pre-specified status before permitting an electric motor to move the powered retractable steps for a truck from a stowed position to a deployed position.  
         [0005]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,300 issued to Raymond W. Fink, et al on Feb. 11, 1997, a bracket assembly is provided to allow a vertical positioning of a mounted member, such as a step or a running board and a flexible mounting of the bracket to a variety of frame member sizes. The Fink patent does not depict a movable running board or a control apparatus for effecting movement thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,993, issued to George R. Walker on Oct. 15, 1985, provides for an adjustable motorcycle passenger floorboard member, which can be selectively manually positioned, but is not powered and no control apparatus is utilized for the positioning of the passenger floorboard.  
         [0006]     A floating step assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,634 issued to P. Keith Potts on Feb. 10, 1981, in which the step is vertically movable through a four bar linkage controlled by a mechanical locking mechanism to fix the floating step at a selected height. A retractable vehicle access stair and elevator is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,228, issued to Edward L. Hall on Nov. 15, 1977, in which the stair apparatus is horizontally movable through the operation of a linear actuator and the elevator apparatus is vertically movable through a powered chain drive mechanism. The Hall apparatus does contemplate the use of an automatic sensing device to determine when the stair or elevator apparatus has reached a desired position.  
         [0007]     People of different statures have different needs for the position of a running board to provide a convenient use of the running board for ingress and egress of the vehicle while permitting the running board to be stored in a retracted position that does not detract from the ground clearance of the vehicle. With power deployable running boards, no one position will allow most people to enter and exit the vehicle comfortably. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a control mechanism co-operable with the powered running board to provide the user with the ability to establish a preferred position of the running board at any selected point of travel permitted to the running board by the structure thereof, and to have this position stored in the memory of the control mechanism for retrieval at subsequent deployment events.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the known prior art by providing a control apparatus for a powered automotive running board incorporating a memory function to provide customized deployment.  
         [0009]     It is another object of this invention to provide vehicle running board control mechanism that utilized the vehicle memory system to provide a customize operation of the powered running board.  
         [0010]     It is a feature of this invention that the running board can be deployed to a different specified height for a selected group of individuals.  
         [0011]     It is an advantage of this invention that the powered running board can be consistently deployed to a pre-selected height.  
         [0012]     It is another advantage of this invention that the powered running board on an automotive vehicle can be deployed to a convenient operating height for different individuals.  
         [0013]     It is still another advantage of this invention that the operator of the powered running board can establish a convenient operating height for the powered running board and store that position in the memory function of the control mechanism to permit a return to that convenient height whenever desired.  
         [0014]     It is another feature of this invention that each person utilizing the powered running board can establish a pre-set operating height for consistent deployment.  
         [0015]     It is yet another advantage of this invention that the right side running board can be operated independently of the left side running board.  
         [0016]     It is still another feature of this invention that the control apparatus can be adapted to different styles or configurations of powered running boards.  
         [0017]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a control mechanism for a powered running board on an automotive vehicle that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.  
         [0018]     These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a control mechanism for a powered running board on an automotive vehicle, such as a sport utility vehicle. The control mechanism utilizes the memory function of the vehicle to store therein, established operating positions for the running board. The user or occupant of the vehicle can manually position the powered running board to a convenient operating position within a range of available operating positions on the vehicle. By storing the selected position of the running board in the memory function of the vehicle, the control mechanism can return to that same operating height each time the occupant seeks to use the running board for entry or exit of the vehicle. The control mechanism is operable with different configurations of running boards and with different power devices for effecting the movement of the running board. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic elevational view of a first embodiment of a powered running board for use on automotive vehicles, the lowered operating position of the running board and associated linkage being shown in phantom;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic elevational view of a second embodiment of a powered running board for use on automotive vehicles depicting the range of movement available to such running board configurations, the lowered operating position being shown in phantom;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the control mechanism for use with automotive powered running boards; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a logic flow diagram for the process of controlling a powered running board. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a control mechanism for a powered running board on an automotive vehicle incorporating the principles of the instant invention can be seen. The powered running board  10  can be manufactured in a number of different configurations. One representative configuration for the powered running board apparatus  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . This configuration of running board is pivotally movable between a raised stored position  12  (shown in solid lines) and a lowered operating position  13  (shown in phantom), thus defining a range of operating movement  14  therebetween. The running board  15  is connected to a pivot mechanism  17 , shown in  FIG. 1  as a four bar linkage  18 , to pivotally support the running board  15  throughout the range of movement  14 . An actuator  19  powers the pivotal movement of the four bar linkage  18 , and is typically a linear actuator  19 , or an electric motor configured to convert rotary motion of the motor into linear movement of the four bar linkage  18 . The four bar linkage  18  keeps the tread or step surface of the running board  15  level throughout the range of operation.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a different embodiment of a powered running board is depicted. In this configuration, the running board  15  is supported on threaded upright members  21  that are received within corresponding threaded receivers  22 . An actuator  25 , typically in the form of an electric motor  26 , rotates the threaded receiver to transmit translational movement of the threaded upright member  21 , thus raising and lowering the running board  15  between the raised stored position  12  (shown in solid lines) and the lowered operating position  13  (shown in phantom lines), defining the range of operating movement  14  therebetween. As one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, the threaded receivers  22  must be rotationally supported on the frame  5  of the automotive vehicle by bearings or the like (not shown) and coupled to the actuator  25 . To effect parallel movement of the running board  15 , all of the threaded receivers  22  will simultaneously rotated to cause translational movement of the corresponding upright members  21 .  
         [0026]     The use of an electric motor  26  for the actuator  19 ,  25  provides the ability to have significant control of the operation of the powered running board  15 . Electronic sensors can sense the position or the extent of rotation of the electric motor  26  and, thus, provide consistent repeatability of the position of the electric motor  26  whenever the actuator  19 ,  25  is engaged. Accordingly, the vertical position of the running board  15  within the operating range  14  can be repeated with great accuracy, irrespective of the configuration of the apparatus permitting vertical movement of the running board  15 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram of the control system  30  incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The control system  30  includes a central control module  31  operable to receive and transmit signals to the other components of the system  30 . The control module  31  is electrically connected to the drive mechanism  19 ,  25 ,  26  for each of the left and right side running boards  15  independently to permit individual operation thereof. The control module  31  is also electrically connected to a position switch mechanism  33  that is used to manually operate each of the left and right side motors  26  for the corresponding running boards  15 . The switch mechanism  33  can include individual switches for the left and right side operation or a single switch with a cooperative left/right operational switch. Typically, this switch mechanism  33  will include a toggle switch or the equivalent to permit use thereof in the up and down directions.  
         [0028]     The control module  30  is also connected to a memory module  35  which can be a part of the existing memory module (not shown) in modern automotive vehicle to control positions of mirrors and seats, or the memory module  35  can be a separate memory bank that is incorporated into the control module  31 . Ancillary to the memory module  35  can be an optional selector switch  37  that is operative to store in the memory module  35  selected positions for multiple users or other pre-set positions that can be stored in the memory module  35 .  
         [0029]     During operation, the control module  30  can provide a drive signal  41  to each respective left and right drive motor  26  to effect operation thereof to move the corresponding running board  15  in the desired direction. Each drive motor  26  is also operative to provide a feedback signal  43  to the control module  31  to indicate the rotated position of the drive motor  26  being operated, and consequently, the operating position (vertical height) of the corresponding running board  15 .  
         [0030]     The control module  31  is also operable to receive input signals from various components of the vehicle to indicate status of the component to provide an operative interlock system through the control module  31 . For example, the opening of a door (not shown) can initiate power to the drive motor  26  for the corresponding running board  10 . A sensor can provide an input signal  44  to the control module  31  to be indicative of whether the vehicle is moving or if the transmission is in a predetermined position, thus controlling the transmission of the drive signal  41 .  
         [0031]     In operation, as reflected in the logic flow diagram of  FIG. 4 , the input signal from one or more vehicle sensors at step  51 , such as the signaling of the opening of a vehicle door at step  52 , initiates the query as to whether all conditions permit the deployment of the running boards at step  55 . For example, the opening of the door at step  52  would normally initiate the deployment of the running board  10  on the corresponding side of the vehicle; however, should another sensor indicate that the vehicle is moving, deployment of the running board  10  should not be started. Accordingly, if all of the sensed vehicle conditions at step  55  indicates that deployment should not occur, then changing vehicle conditions at step  53  would be repeated until all the preselected sensor criteria is met. At step  57 , the subsequent query is whether a memory position has already been stored in memory. If not, the running board  10  would have to be manually deployed through the switch  33  at step  58  until a desired position is established and that position is then automatically stored in the memory module  35  at step  59 .  
         [0032]     If the memory module  35  already has a position stored, the next query at step  60  is whether multiple positions are stored. If so, user identification needs to be inputted prior to step  61  and deployment of the running board  10  is then accomplished at step  62  according to the position selected from the memory module  35 . If multiple positions are not stored in the memory module  35 , the running board  10  is deployed to the last stored position at step  65 . Once the vehicle door is closed at step  67 , the running board  10  is then returned to the retracted position  12  at step  68 .  
         [0033]     The control system  30  will also be operative to deploy the running board to the last deployed position when the vehicle door is opened from the outside, assuming that all other conditions at step  51  are satisfied. Assuming that the vehicle is parked and is not being operated, the driver would approach the vehicle and open the door in a normal manner. The process would go through the steps from step  52  with the sensor indicating the opening of the vehicle door. Since the vehicle is parked and not operating, all of the other preselected conditions should be satisfied at steps  51  and  55 . Assuming further that the vehicle had been previously operated or otherwise has a pre-stored position of deployment in the memory module  35 , the query at step  57  is positively answered. At step  60 , no user identification would have been provided so the running board  10  would then be deployed to the previously deployed position at step  65 .  
         [0034]     One skilled in the art will realize that the memory module  35  could also be used to store pre-set deployment positions, such as 50% or 100% of the movement range  14 , being used in deployment of the running board  10 . Such pre-established deployment positions could be used in lieu of the user defined positions inputted by the control  37  and the process at step  61 . The last stored position will be saved in the memory module  35  until a new position is stored therein. Accordingly, once the position of the running board  15  is stored in the memory module  35 , the control module  31  will send a drive signal  41 , when properly initiated, until the feedback signal  43  indicative of the return of the running board  15  to the pre-selected position has been obtained from the corresponding drive motor  26 .  
         [0035]     With the utilization of the proper vehicle input signals  44 , the control module  31  can be operative to return the running board  15  to the raised stored position  12  whenever the door (not shown) is closed and automatically back to the last selected stored operative position whenever the door is opened.  
         [0036]     One skilled in the art will recognize that this control system  30  can be utilized to operate the running boards  15  on both sides of the vehicle or, alternatively, on just the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle with the passenger side being a conventional mechanical or normal powered movable running board  15 . The position switches  33 ,  37  can be appropriately positioned for access by the proper occupant of the vehicle.  
         [0037]     It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.