Step apparatus

A step apparatus includes a step body that can move between a projecting position where the step body projects from a side surface of the vehicle and a retracted position where the step body is retracted behind the side surface of the vehicle, a drive unit for driving the step body, the drive unit including a rope-shaped member connected to the step body, a rotating drum around which the rope-shaped member is wound, and a drive motor that rotates the rotating drum, and a guide unit for guiding the movement of the step body between the projecting position and the retracted position.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-019298 filed on Jan. 27, 2005, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a step apparatus including a step body that can move between a projecting position where the step body projects from a side surface of a vehicle and a retracted position where the step body is retracted behind the side surface of the vehicle and a drive unit that drives the step body.

2. Description of the Related Art

In such a step apparatus, when an occupant tries to get into or out of the vehicle, the drive unit drives the step body to the projecting position so that the step body projects outward and assists the occupant in getting into or out of the vehicle.

When the vehicle drives, the drive unit drives the step body to the retracted position so that the step body does not protrude from the side surface of the vehicle and is prevented from being damaged.

Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 4-86551 discloses an example of a step apparatus in which a drive unit includes a drive motor and a parallel link mechanism that connects the drive motor to a step body. The parallel link mechanism has a plurality of link members connected to each other such that the link members can rotate around vertical axes.

In this step apparatus, the step body is moved horizontally between the projecting position and the retracted position.

Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 5-63988 discloses another example of a step apparatus in which a drive unit includes a drive motor that rotates a rotating shaft around an axial center extending along the length of a step body and a gear-rotating mechanism that connects the rotational axis to the step body. The gear-rotating mechanism has a plurality of rotating members that rotate around the axial center extending along the length of the step body.

In this step apparatus, the step body is rotated around the axial center extending along the length of the stop body between the projecting position and the retracted position.

In the step apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 4-86551, a space for installing the link members included in the parallel link mechanism and a space for allowing the link members to move must be provided in addition to a space for installing the drive motor. Accordingly, the installation space for the drive unit is large.

In addition, the drive unit must be installed at a position where a space without obstacles covers the moving areas of the link members. Thus, the installation position of the drive unit is limited.

In the step apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 5-63988, a space for installing the rotating shaft that extends along the length of the step body must be provided in addition to a space for installing the drive motor. Accordingly, the installation space for the drive unit is large.

In addition, the drive unit must be installed at a position where a space without obstacles covers the entire length of the step body so that the rotating shaft can be placed. Thus, the installation position of the drive unit is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the above-described situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a step apparatus including a drive unit that can be installed in a small space and that can reduce the limit to the installation position thereof.

To achieve this object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a step apparatus includes a step body that can move between a projecting position where the step body projects from a side surface of the vehicle and a retracted position where the step body is retracted behind the side surface of the vehicle, a drive unit for driving the step body, the drive unit including a rope-shaped member connected to the step body, a rotating drum around which the rope-shaped member is wound, and a drive motor that rotates the rotating drum, and a guide unit for guiding the movement of the step body between the projecting position and the retracted position.

When the drive motor rotates the rotating drum, the rope-shaped member moves along the length thereof, thereby moving the step body. At this time, the guide unit guides the movement of the step body such that the step body moves from the retracted position to the projecting position or from the projecting position to the retracted position.

Thus, the drive unit drives the step body between the projecting position and the retracted position.

When the drive unit is installed, even when the rotating drum and the step body are disposed separately from each other, the rope-shaped member wound around the rotating drum can be positioned such that the rope-shaped member is connected to the step body.

The rope-shaped member itself requires a small installation space, and the longitudinal direction of the rope-shaped member can be freely changed when the rope-shaped member is installed. Therefore, even if there is an obstacle between the rotating drum and the step body, the rope-shaped member may be disposed so as to avoid the obstacle.

Accordingly, although the drive unit requires installation spaces for the drive motor and the rotating drum, the installation space for the rope-shaped member is small. In addition, the rotating drum and the step body may be installed at separate positions and the drive unit may be installed at a position where there is an obstacle between the rotating drum and the step body.

Thus, a step apparatus including a drive unit that can be installed in a small space and that can reduce the limit to the installation position thereof is provided.

According to the present invention, the step apparatus may further include a connecting unit for connecting the rope-shaped member to the step body and moving the step body in association with the movement of the rope-shaped member along the length of the rope-shaped member.

When the rope-shaped member moves along the length thereof, the connecting unit moves the step body while adequately associating the movement of the rope-shaped member with the movement of the step body.

Even when the longitudinal direction of the rope-shaped member differs from the moving direction of the step body, the connecting unit connects the rope-shaped member to the step body such that the movement of the rope-shaped member along the length thereof can be converted into the movement of the step body in the moving direction thereof.

When the above-described connecting unit is provided, the step body can be adequately moved by driving the rope-shaped member.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, the connecting unit may include an arm that projects from the step body and extends along a moving direction of the step body. In this case, one longitudinal end of the rope-shaped member is restrained at a distal end of the arm and the other longitudinal end of the rope-shaped member is restrained at a proximal end of the arm or at the step body, portions of the rope-shaped member near the longitudinal ends of the rope-shaped member extending along the extending direction of the arm.

When the rope-shaped member moves in one direction along the length thereof, the distal end of the arm is pulled so that the arm is moved in a moving direction of the step body. When the rope-shaped member moves in the opposite direction along the length thereof, the proximal end of the arm or the step body is pulled so that the arm is moved in the opposite moving direction.

Since the arm can be moved along the moving direction of the step body in association with the movement of the rope-shaped member along the length thereof, the step body can be adequately moved along the moving direction thereof.

In addition, since the portions of the rope-shaped member near the longitudinal ends thereof extend along the extending direction of the arm, that is, along the moving direction of the step body, the rope-shaped member can be driven in accordance with the moving direction of the step body and the arm can be easily moved along the moving direction of the step body.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of the connecting units may be arranged along the length of the step body with intervals therebetween.

If the step body is moved with a single connecting unit, only a portion of the step body is pulled to move the entire body thereof. Accordingly, when the step body is long, the step body is easily distorted.

When a plurality of connecting units are provided as described above, the step body can be evenly moved over the length thereof. Therefore, distortion and the like of the step body can be prevented and the step body can be adequately moved.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, the drive unit may include a plurality of the rope-shaped members that correspond to the plurality of connecting units, the rotating drum around which the rope-shaped members are wound, and the drive motor that rotates the rotating drum. In this case, the plurality of connecting units are configured to operate in association with the movements of the corresponding rope-shaped members.

When a single drive motor rotates the rotating drum, a plurality of rope-shaped members move along the length thereof and the connecting units move the step body in association with the movements of the corresponding rope-shaped members.

Thus, although a plurality of connecting units are provided to evenly move the step body over the length thereof, the drive unit requires only one drive motor. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, the projecting position and the retracted position between which the guide unit guides the movement of the step body may be at different heights.

Accordingly, even when the height of the optimum projecting position for assisting an occupant in getting into or out of the vehicle and the height of the optimum retracted position for installing the step body differ from each other, the step body can be moved between the optimum positions.

The guide unit may, for example, move the step body between the projecting position and the retracted position that is higher than the projecting position. If the retracted position is higher than the projecting position, the step body can be retracted to a position higher than the bottom edge of the side surface of the vehicle.

In this case, when the step body is at the retracted position, the step body does not protrude from the bottom edge of the side surface of the vehicle and is reliably prevented from being damaged.

In addition, if the retracted position is higher than the projecting position, the step body moves downward to the projecting position. Therefore, the distance between the step body at the projecting position and the ground can be reduced. Accordingly, the occupant can easily get into or out of the vehicle.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, the guide unit may include a plurality of guiding portions that are substantially parallel to each other and a sliding member that is connected to the step body and that slides along the guiding portions.

When the step body moves, the sliding member slides along the guiding portions so as to guide the movement of the step body. Since the sliding member slides along a plurality of guiding portions that are substantially parallel to each other instead of sliding along a single guiding portion, the sliding member can move smoothly.

Accordingly, the guiding unit that smoothly guide the movement of the step body has a simple structure including the guiding portions and the sliding member.

In the step apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of the guide units may be arranged along the length of the step body with intervals therebetween.

In this case, since the step body is guided by a plurality of guide units, the step body can be evenly guided over the length thereof. Accordingly, the movement of the step body can be smoothly and evenly guided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A step apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the step apparatus includes a step body1that can move between a projecting position and a retracted position and a drive unit2that drives the step body1.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the step apparatus in the state in which the step body1is at the retracted position andFIG. 2is a perspective view of the step apparatus in the state in which the step body1is at the projecting position.

The step body1extends along the front-rear direction of a vehicle3. As shown inFIG. 3, which is a vertical sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle3, the retracted position is a position where the step body1is retracted behind a side surface3aof the vehicle3. In addition, as shown inFIG. 4, which is also a vertical sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle3, the projecting position is a position where the step body1projects from the side surface3aof the vehicle3.

The vehicle3includes a bottom plate4, a reinforcing member5positioned outside the bottom plate and extending along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a panel member6that covers the periphery of the reinforcing member5.

The panel member6and a door panel7positioned above the panel member6form the side surface3aof the vehicle3.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the drive unit2includes wires8, which function as rope-shaped members, a rotating drum12around which the wires8are wound, and a drive motor9that rotates the rotating drum12.

Connecting units10are provided to connect the wires8to the step body1and move the step body1in association with the movement of the wires8along the length thereof. In addition, guide units11are provided to guide the step body1between the projecting position and the retracted position.

Three guide units11in total are arranged at the longitudinal ends and the center of the step body1with intervals therebetween along the length thereof. In addition, two connecting units10in total are arranged along the length of the step body1with an interval therebetween, each connecting unit10being positioned between the adjacent guide units11.

As shown inFIG. 5, the drive motor9rotates the rotating drum12around which the wires8are wound in a forward or reverse direction, and thereby drives the wires8along the length thereof. Although not shown in the figure, the drive motor9is attached to the bottom plate4of the vehicle3with a bracket or the like.

Two wires8are respectively wound around an upper section and a lower section of the rotating drum12. Accordingly, a single drive motor9drives two wires8by rotating the rotating drum12.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the two connecting units10are configured to operate in association with the movement of the respective wires8. In the present embodiment, each connecting unit10corresponds to one wire8.

Each of the two connecting units10has an arm14that extends along the moving direction of the step body1that is perpendicular to the length of the step body1. In addition, retaining members13are provided near the ends of the arm14to retain the wire8at the longitudinal ends thereof.

The connecting units10move the arms14in the moving direction of the step body1in association with the movement of the respective wires8, thereby moving the step body1in the moving direction thereof.

The retaining members13provided on each arm14include a first retaining member13aand a second retaining member13b.The first retaining member13ais positioned near a proximal end of the arm14that is adjacent to the step body1and retains one end of the corresponding wire8. The second retaining member13bis positioned near a distal end of the arm14that is distant from the step body1and retains the other end of the corresponding wire8.

In addition, each arm14is provided with rotating members15that rotate around vertical axial centers thereof, the rotating members15supporting the wire8extending from the rotating drum12and restraining the wire8with respect to the retaining members13. The rotating members15include a first rotating member15acorresponding to the first retaining member13aand a second rotating member15bcorresponding to the second retaining member13b.

Accordingly, portions of the rope-shaped member8near the longitudinal ends thereof extend along the extending direction of the arm14.

As shown inFIG. 6, the first rotating member15aand the second rotating member15bare retained by a bracket16fixed to the bottom plate4of the vehicle3.

In addition, a plurality of notch-shaped wire-restraining portions17are provided to retain the wire8extending from the rotating drum12and restrain the wires8with respect to the rotating members15.

The three guide units11are configured to guide the movement of the step body1between the retracted position and the projecting position that are at different heights.

In the present embodiment, the retracted position shown inFIG. 3is higher than the projecting position shown inFIG. 4, and the guide units11guide the movement of the step body1between the retracted position and the projecting position.

As shown inFIG. 6, each of the three guide units11has two guiding portions18that are substantially parallel to each other and a sliding member19that is connected to the step body1and slides along the guiding portions18.

The two guiding portions18are long holes formed in each of a pair of brackets20fixed to the bottom plate4of the vehicle3.

The sliding member19has sliding pins21extending outward through the long holes that function as the guiding portions18and is disposed between the brackets20. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the sliding member19is fixed to the step body1with bolts and nuts at one end thereof such that the sliding member19receives and supports the body1.

Thus, the step body1is received and supported by the sliding members19, and accordingly the sliding members19receive the load applied to the step body1. Since the sliding members19are arranged at the longitudinal ends and the center of the step body1, the load applied to the step body1can be supported with a good balance.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, each guiding portion18is inclined such that the inner end thereof is positioned higher than the outer end thereof along the width of the vehicle3.

Accordingly, when the sliding members19slide along the guiding portions18, the step body1moves between the projecting position and the retracted position that is higher than the projecting position.

InFIGS. 1 and 2, the wires8are arranged linearly between the drive motor9and the connecting units10since the spaces between the drive motor9and the connecting units10have no obstacles.

When, for example, there are obstacles between the drive motor9and the connecting units10, the wires8may be bent so as to avoid the obstacles by adequately arranging the rotating members and the wire-restraining portions. Accordingly, the drive unit2can be installed even when there are obstacles between the drive motor9and the connecting units10.

Thus, the drive unit2can be installed in a small space since the wires8are used and the limit to the installation position of the drive unit2can be reduced.

The operation of the step apparatus will be explained below.

When the vehicle drives, the step body1is moved to the retracted position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. When an occupant gets into or out of the vehicle, the step body1is moved to the projecting position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

When the step body1is at the retracted position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the drive motor9rotates the rotating drum12such that the wires8move in the directions shown by the arrows inFIG. 1.

Accordingly, the arms14move outward along the width of the vehicle3in association with the movement of the wires8, thereby moving the step body1outward along the width of the vehicle3. At this time, the sliding members19slide along the guiding portions18to guide the movement of the step body1.

Then, when the sliding members19reach the ends of the guiding portions18, the step body1reaches the projecting position as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

When the step body1is at the projecting position, the drive motor9rotates the rotating drum12in the opposite direction so that the wires8move in the directions shown by the arrows inFIG. 2. Accordingly, the step body1moves from the projecting position to the retracted position.

Other Embodiments

(1) In the above-described embodiment, each of the connecting units10includes the arm14that extends along the moving direction of the step body1and the retaining members13are disposed near the proximal and distal ends of the arm14. However, instead of providing the retaining member13anear the proximal end of the arm14, a retaining member13may also be provided directly on the step body1. Thus, the positions of the retaining members13may be changed.

In addition, the shape of the arm14included in each connecting unit10and the positions at which the longitudinal ends of the wires8are restrained are not limited and the structure of each connecting unit10may be modified as necessary.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, portions of each wire8near the longitudinal ends thereof extend along the extending direction of the arm14. However, directions in which the wires8extend may be changed as necessary.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the guide units11guide the movement of the step body1between the projecting position and the retracted position that is higher than the projecting position. However, the guide units11may also guide the movement of the step body1between the projecting position and the retracted position that is lower than the projecting position. Alternatively, the guide units11may also guide the movement of the step body1between the projecting position and the retracted position that are at the same height.

The relationship between the heights of the projecting position and the retracted position can be changed by changing the shapes of the guiding portions18.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, two guiding portions18are arranged substantially parallel to each other. However, the number of guiding portions18may also be changed to one or three or more as necessary.

In addition, in the above-describe embodiment, each of a plurality of guide units11has two guiding portions. However, the guide units11may also have different numbers of guiding portions18.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, three guide units11in total are provided at the longitudinal ends and the center of the step body1with intervals therebetween along the length thereof. However, the positions and number of the guide units11may be changed as necessary.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, two connecting units10in total are arranged along the length of the step body1with an interval therebetween, each connecting unit10being positioned between the adjacent guide units11. However, the positions and number of the connecting units10may be changed as necessary.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, two wires8are driven by a single drive motor9. However, the number of wires8driven by a single drive motor9may be changed as necessary. For example, one wire8may be driven by a single drive motor9.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the sliding members19have the sliding pins21that extend through the long holes that function as the guiding portions18so that the sliding members19can slide along the guiding portions18. However, the guiding portions18may also be guide rails and the sliding members19may be provided with guide rollers that roll along the guide rails so that the sliding members19can slide along the guiding portions18. Thus, the manner in which the sliding members19slide along the guiding portions18may be changed as necessary.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the wires8are described as an example of rope-shaped members. However, other types of rope-shaped members, such as belts, may also be used.

(10) In the above-described embodiment, the retracted position is a position where the step body is retracted behind the side surface3aof the vehicle3and the projecting position is a position where the step body projects from the side surface3aof the vehicle3. However, the retracted position may also be a position where the step body is retracted behind the rear surface of the vehicle and the projecting position may also be a position where the step body projects from the rear surface of the vehicle3.

The present invention is applicable to various types of step apparatuses having a drive unit for driving a step body between a projecting position where the step body projects from a side surface of a vehicle and a retracted position where the step body is retracted behind the side surface of the vehicle.