Abstract:
A method of attaching a vehicle accessory such as a running board, to a vehicle for assisting in entry and exit from the vehicle as well as protecting the body of the vehicle is disclosed, comprising an accessory such as molded running board and/or substructure with a plurality of receiving zones for receiving the mounting arm brackets, and further comprising a means of securing the accessory to the bracket by means of deflectable locking tab and aperture configuration. The securing means of the present invention requires no additional hardware for its attachment, thereby simplifying the mounting procedure, reducing manufacturing costs, while providing a strong, secure mount.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to vehicle mounted accessories, such as running boards. Specifically this invention relates to the method of attaching accessories, such as a running board and its associated mounting bracket system to the vehicle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In recent years running boards have gained popularity for use on four wheel drive vehicles, pick-ups, vans and other vehicles which are supported a substantial distance above the ground. The running boards facilitate entry into the vehicle.  
           [0003]    Presently known running boards usually require one or more mounting brackets to be secured beneath the running board so as to support the running board against bending when subjected to weight loads. These transverse brackets are usually bolted or welded to the underside of the running board on their outboard ends and have holes or slots on their inner ends to attach the entire running board assembly to the vehicle using discrete mounting hardware, usually bolts or self-drilling screws.  
           [0004]    Numerous running boards presently on the market are designed with the ease of manufacturing in mind as well as installation, but it is advantageous to have a running board which can be manufactured and assembled quickly, easily, and without the need for additional fasteners or hardware, thereby driving down production costs and time, while still maintaining a secure and strong assembly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a running board on a vehicle without the need for fasteners between the running boards and mounting brackets and/or between the mounting brackets and the vehicle.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a running board on a vehicle simply and quickly, without requiring additional tools.  
           [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a running board on a vehicle which would significantly reduce production costs and time.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a running board on a vehicle which will be secure enough to prevent inadvertent separation of the running board from the vehicle.  
           [0009]    These and additional objects are achieved in a running board attachment method comprising one or more mounting brackets, which are attached to a vehicle, and received through one or more corresponding attachment zones located under the running board. A securing means such as one or more deflective tabs embodied in the running board/bracket system are provided which bias easily during insertion, but subsequently snap through corresponding apertures when the running board assembly is fully installed. The result is a secured attachment of the running board to the mounting bracket and/or the bracket to the vehicle with very little effort exerted or skill required, and no discrete fasteners used.  
           [0010]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the running board as attached to a vehicle;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the mounting bracket and partial sectional view of the corresponding running board;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the running board/mounting bracket of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, showing the running board being slid onto the mounting bracket;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the running board being slid further onto the mounting bracket;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the running board fully attached to the mounting bracket;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention and depicts the mounting bracket and partial sectional view of a corresponding running board;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded partial perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, showing the running board and mounting bracket, prior to assembly;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, and illustrates the running board attached to the mounting bracket;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of the mounting bracket attached to a vehicle body panel, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket illustrated in FIG. 9. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0023]    Referring to the figures, specifically FIG. 1, a running board assembly  10  is shown attached to a truck-type motor vehicle. The running board is generally a horizontal, elongated step attached to the vehicle by a mounting bracket located below the vehicle&#39;s doors for providing a step to assist in entry and egress from the vehicle.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates the two general components of the present invention, the mounting bracket  12  and running board sub-structure  14 , comprising the running board assembly  10 . Each running board assembly  10  may embody a plurality of mounting brackets  12 , depending on the length of the running board  14  for each individual application, as well as the load it will be subjected to, but the number of mounting brackets  12  per running board  14  is not intended to be a limiting factor of the scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]    The partial-sectional view shown in FIG. 2 of the running board sub-structure  14  element, illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention comprising an upper surface  16  having a plurality of longitudinal channels  17 ,  18 , and  19 , bottom side  15 , a turned under, outer edge  20 , and a back edge  22  having a mounting slot  21  for receiving the mounting bracket arm  24  at each mounting location. The channels  17 ,  18 , and  19  provide corrugated integrity to the running board  14 .  
         [0026]    Each mounting bracket  12  comprises a mounting bracket arm  24  perpendicular to the vehicle attachment leg  26 . The specific angle and design of each bracket  12  varies depending on the application, but generally comprises a U-shaped metal rail with flared edges  27  and  28 , for increased strength, durability and resistance to bending. The vehicle attachment leg  26  comprises at least one aperture there through for securing the mounting bracket  12  to the vehicle by various means such as machine fasteners. Alternatively, the mounting bracket  12  may be secured to the vehicle without fasteners by any of the means depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0027]    Each mounting bracket  12  has at least one attachment means, for securing the running board  14  to the mounting bracket arm  24 . In a preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting bracket  12  embodies both a chamfered post  30  and a deflectable tab  32 , extending from the mounting surface  25  of the bracket arm  24 , for engaging with a pair of corresponding receiving apertures  31  and  33  respectively shown in FIGS. 3-5.  
         [0028]    To attach the running board assembly  10  to a vehicle, the mounting bracket(s)  12  are mounted to the vehicle by the use of conventional fasteners, or alternatively, by the fastenerless means depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. The bracket arms  24  are orientated outwardly for installation of the running board  13 , perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel. To attach the running board  14  upon the mounting brackets  12  as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the brackets  12  are pushed into their corresponding slots  21  in the running board sub-structure  14  until the tab  32  and post  30  snap into their respective “home” positions  33  and  31 .  
         [0029]    More specifically, as the chamfered post  30  comes into contact with the back edge  22  of the running board  14 , the running board  14  is deflected partially upwards. Similarly, when the deflective tab  32  comes into contact with back edge, the tab  32  is forced to deflect downward for its passage through the aperture  21 . The running board continues to be inserted over the bracket arms  24  until the distal end  23  of the bracket comes into contact with the outer edge  20 , wherein it rests upon lip  11 . Once in this fully inserted position, the chamfered post  30  and deflective tab  32  are received through corresponding apertures  31  and  33  respectively, snapping into position and securing the running board  14  to the mounting bracket  12 .  
         [0030]    In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 6, the mounting arm  24  has a ramp  35  on the distal end  23  of the mounting bracket  12 , and at least one receiving aperture  36  for receiving chamfered tab  38  located on the bottom side  15  of the running board  14 . Similar to the above embodiment, during insertion of the mounting bracket into the aperture  21  of the running board  14 , the ramp  35  contacts the chamfered tab  38  causing the bracket arm  24  to deflect away, until such time the arm  24  is fully inserted, at which time the bracket arm  24  snaps back when the chamfered tab  38  is received through the aperture  36 , securely attaching the running board  14  to the mounting bracket  12 . In both of the above embodiments, the force required to insert the running board  14  over the mounting brackets  12  is much less than that required to remove it, once “locked” and can usually be installed by one individual.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose yet another embodiment of the present invention, namely, a variation in the means of attaching the composite running board  14  to the mounting bracket  12 . Specifically, the bottom side  15  of the running board  14  is partially shown at one mounting bracket  12  location, wherein the reinforcement ribs  40  are intersected by walls  41 ,  42  with a receiving groove  44  positioned there between, the walls  41 ,  42  thereby providing support on either side of the mounting bracket arm  24 . Located on each walls  41 ,  42  is at least one retainer post  46 , protruding inward towards the receiving groove  44  and having a chamfered edge, facing the bottom plane of the running board  14 . These retainer posts  46  are received in corresponding apertures  47  within the walls  48 ,  49  of the mounting bracket  12  for securing it to the running board  14 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 shows the preassemble orientation of the bracket  12  and the running board  14 , with the mounting lip  50  removed for illustration purposes. The mounting bracket arm  24  is inserted into the receiving groove  44 , wherein the retainer posts  46  of the lateral walls  41 ,  42  bias the walls  48 ,  49  of the mounting bracket arm  24  inwards, until such time the retainer posts  46  are received through apertures  47  at which time the walls  48 ,  49  snap back outward, creating a secured attachment of the running board  14  to the bracket  12 .  
         [0033]    As previously explained, the flared edges  27 ,  28  of the mounting bracket arm  24  are received in shallow, corresponding recesses  53 ,  55  molded in the top of each rib  40  as well as the two walls  41 ,  42  allowing the mounting bracket  12  to be mounted flush with the bottom plane of the running board  14 , minimizing the chance of snagging any debris the vehicle may be traversing over.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment providing for the attachment of the mounting bracket to a vehicle body panel  58  or sub-frame, frame, without the need for additional fasteners. Generally, the mounting bracket comprises two elements: a mounting plate  60  having a pair of flanges  62 ,  64  forming a generally planar mounting surface separated by a formed, central ridge  66  having mounting holes  63 ,  65  for attaching the second element; the running board support arm  70 . Though illustrating the preferred embodiment, the scope of the invention is not limited in the number of elements comprising the mounting bracket.  
         [0035]    Each flange  62 ,  64  comprises a planar spring arm.  72 ,  74  formed in the mounting plate  60  with a anchored end  73  and a curved, deflectable end  75 . The curved end  75  terminates in a semi-circular bend with an engagement groove  76  for engaging with a corresponding aperture  80  in a vehicle body  58 . Each flange  62 ,  64  further comprises a retaining lip  78  on a lower edge  79  for being received in a lower mounting aperture  81  in the vehicle body  58 . A bridge portion  82  is located on each flange  62 ,  64 , positioned between the spring arms  72 ,  74  and the retaining lip  78 , acting as a cam which provides a tight, rattle-free abutment of the mounting plate  60  against the vehicle body  58 .  
         [0036]    The central ridge  66  is strong enough to securely attach and support the running board which attaches through holes  63 ,  65 . Various fastener mounting means know in the art, or fastenerless mounting means as disclosed herein may be utilized, but in a preferred embodiment a pair of locking pins  67 ,  69  positioned on the horizontal running board bracket corresponds with the holes  63 ,  65  to form a secure attachment means, with minimal installation time and cost expenditure.  
         [0037]    Although the invention as described and illustrated is directed towards the attachment of a running board to a vehicle, it should be noted that the principles of the invention may be applied to the attachment of a variety of vehicular accessories, and should not limit the scope of the invention to the method of attaching running boards per se. The description of the invention herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.