PATENT ABSTRACT
A wheelhouse cladding step assembly includes a step movable between a closed position and an open or deployed position in which the step is located proximal the wheelhouse of the vehicle and provides improved access to the roof and/or rooftop cargo storage of the vehicle. The step is designed to have a shape matching the shape of the wheelhouse of the vehicle and is preferably curved and when in the closed position shows a surface that matches the vehicle trim to hide the step. The assembly includes hinges and a latching mechanism that are also contained within the assembly so they are hidden when the step is in the closed position.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure generally relates to vehicles and, more particularly, relates to a step for a vehicle to improve accessibility to, and usefulness of, the roof area and a roof rack cargo storage system. 
     Users of vehicles, including in particular sport utility and crossover type vehicles, often desire access to the roof of the vehicle and/or upper portions of their vehicle for a variety of reasons such as cleaning the full vehicle exterior (including the windshield, moon roof, and entire vehicle roof), as well as using the roof rack and/or top of vehicle storage area. While some individuals may use of the side vehicle running board and/or rear bumper for these purposes, it is not be possible to use the side running boards to access some of the areas of the roof of the vehicle since they do not provide users enough increased reach to gain access to the primary storage area of the roof of the vehicle. It is generally known to use a step or wheel ladder or other similar device to gain access to the upper portion of the vehicle. However, such solutions are limited and can be quite inconvenient and cumbersome—particularly when the devices or tools must be brought along and stowed in the vehicle when access to the roof is desired at another location. Obviously, such devices may be forgotten or lost. When ladders or other such devices are not available, it is generally known that the user may also attempt to access the roof/upper portions of the vehicle by standing on the tires, the vehicle interior floor and the vehicle seats (with the door open). These actions may result in awkward body positions and in an increased potential for vehicle and/or cargo damage. Despite these long known solutions and their limitations and deficiencies, the generally known solutions remain unchanged. There long remains a significant need to improve the accessibility to the roof areas of a vehicle, in particular the cargo storage area. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, graphic view of a sport utility vehicle including a deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in a closed position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective, graphic view of the sport utility vehicle including the deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in an open position according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an alternate perspective, graphic view of the sport utility vehicle including the deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in an open position according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective, graphic view of a vehicle including a deployable, wheelhouse cladding step according to an alternate exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate perspective, graphic view of the deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in a closed position according to the alternate exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate perspective, graphic view of the deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in an open position according to the alternate exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an alternate perspective, graphic view the deployable, wheelhouse cladding step in an open position according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring in general to all of the Figures and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , there is disclosed a wheelhouse cladding step  20  installed on a vehicle  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle  1  shown in the present disclosure is a sport utility type vehicle. The vehicle  1  includes a rear end  2  including a liftgate  3  and a cab or occupant or passenger compartment  5  as are generally known. The vehicle  1  may further include sides  6 , wheel wells or wheelhouses  7 , and wheels  8  as are generally known. In one particular exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle  1  may further include a side step or running board  10  for assisting an occupant in entering and exiting the cab  5  of the vehicle  1 . In a further particular exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the side step  10  may include a deployable extension  11  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The vehicle  1  further includes a roof or top  9  generally extending over the cab or occupant portion  5  of the vehicle  1 . The roof  9  of the vehicle  1  may further include a cargo or roof rack storage system  15  or similar devices and/or apparatuses. The cargo storage rack  15  may be factory installed as original equipment or it may alternatively be an aftermarket installed product. The wheelhouse cladding step  20  of the present disclosure may be used with any known type passenger, commercial or cargo wheeled vehicle  1  including wheelhouses  7 , particularly where there is a need and/or desire by a user to have convenient and improved access to the roof  9  of the vehicle  1  and support while accessing and using the roof rack storage system  15  on the roof  9  of the vehicle  1 . For purpose of illustration, the implementation of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  of the present disclosure is shown only on the driver&#39;s side  6  rear wheelhouse  7 . The wheelhouse cladding step  20  of the present disclosure may be used at any and/or each wheelhouse  7  of the vehicle  1 . The body sides  6  of the vehicle  1  may generally extend downward from the roof  9  and may include a body or side panel  12  having a class A surface having a requisite fit and finish. Each body panel  12  may further include a body finishing component, proximal the wheelhouse  7 , in the form of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  to be located in a wheelhouse cladding recess  13  in the body panel  12 . The wheelhouse cladding recess  13  of the panel  12  may be modified (as compared to the non-step wheelhouse version where only a wheelhouse trim strip is provided) to create more space to better accommodate the wheelhouse cladding step  20  and its components according to the present disclosure. In particular, in one exemplary embodiment, the additional space and functionality of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  may include a latching mechanism  40  for selectively and securely coupling a step or step member  22  of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  to the body panel  12  or other structure of the vehicle  1 . 
     The step member  22  may preferably have a generally semi-circular or curvilinear shape. More particularly, the step member  22  may preferably have a shape corresponding or matching the shape of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  located along the upper periphery of the wheelhouse  7  of the vehicle  1 . In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape and design appearance details of the step member  22  may preferably be selected to closely match and blend with the shapes and design appearances of the panel  12  and the side  6  of the vehicle  1  and its related other trim and components. The outer surface  21  of the step  22  may be designed to appear as a class A exterior trim/ornamental piece such that the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be visually indistinguishable, as reasonably as possible, from the traditional wheelhouse cladding trim member not including a step. The step member  22  may further include an inner or stepping surface or member  23  preferably including a surface having a non-skid material, function (e.g., a treaded surface) to provide proper, convenient and safe usage as a step to access the roof  9  and/or cargo storage  15  of the vehicle  1 . 
     The step  22  of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be movable to and from a first closed position (as best shown in  FIG. 1 ) in which the inner stepping surface  23  is located in the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  of the vehicle  1  proximal the wheelhouse  7  and wherein the outer or finish surface  21  generally covers or closes the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  to provide a generally class A finish to the panel  12  of the body side  6  of the vehicle  1 . The step  22  of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be movable to and from a second step or open position (as best shown in  FIG. 2 ) in which the inner stepping surface  23  is not located in the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  but is aligned generally horizontally aligned with and facing away from the ground (i.e., generally upward) under the vehicle  1  and wherein the outer or finish surface  21  is generally horizontally aligned with and facing toward the ground under the vehicle  1  and no longer covers or closes the wheelhouse cladding recess  13 . In the second step position of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the step  22  is usable for supporting an individual at an elevated position from the ground and closer to the roof and/or cargo storage  15  located on the roof  9 . 
     Referring now in particular to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may include hinges  30  for coupling the step  22  to the side  6  of the vehicle  1 . A first hinge  30  may be located proximal one end of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  and a second hinge  30  may be located proximal the other end of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13 . The first and second hinges  30  may preferably be located and/or coupled proximal the ends of the step  22  but may alternatively be coupled more distal and in other locations as may be appropriate for incorporating the wheelhouse cladding step  20  into the side  6  of the vehicle  1 . The hinges  30  may be located on the side  6  of the vehicle  1  proximal the wheelhouse  7  of the vehicle. More particularly, the hinges  30  may be located proximal the lower ends or corners of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  which may contain passages or openings for receiving each hinge when the step  22  is in the closed position. The hinges  30  may be of any known or appropriate construction for folding down and up, as well as locking, the step  22  between the first and second positions. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may also include a latching mechanism  40  for selectively coupling or latching the step  22  to the side  6  of the vehicle  1  in the closed position. The latching mechanism  40  may preferably function to selectively latch the step  22  to the wheelhouse recess  13  of the vehicle  1  when the step  22  is in the first closed position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and the latching mechanism  40  may preferably be operated for releasing the step  22  from the wheelhouse recess  13  to be moved to the second deployed position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In one particular exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, to latch, lock, secure and/or couple the wheelhouse cladding step  22  to the panel  12  when not in use and to have a flush appearance with the body side  6  of the vehicle  1 , the wheelhouse recess panel  12  may include a male portion  41  of a retention clip latching mechanism  40  (or, alternatively, multiple male portions of multiple retention clips  40 ) and the female portion  43  (such as a sprung or biased side recess) of the retention clip latching mechanism  40  may be located at a corresponding location on the step  22  for retaining the step  22  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be designed to support a user at an elevated level to provide improved access to the roof  9  and storage rack  15  located on the top of vehicle  1  as well as to more easily clean the entirety of the roof  9  of the vehicle  1 . The wheelhouse cladding step  20  of the present disclosure transforms the exterior cladding located proximal the wheelhouse  7  from a purely cosmetic styling element of the vehicle  1  to a functional fold down step  22 . The wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be used by itself or, alternatively, in combination with the side running board or step  10  as well as in conjunction with the extension  11  of the side step  10  to provide improved access to the roof  9 , the cargo rack storage system  15  and other upper portions of the vehicle  1 . 
     Referring now in particular  FIGS. 4-7 , there is disclosed a wheelhouse cladding step  120  installed on a vehicle  1  according to an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The wheelhouse cladding step  120  may be installed on any vehicle  1  and generally includes a similar design as well as features and functions as the wheelhouse cladding step  20  of  FIGS. 1-3 . Accordingly, the present description is limited to the comparative differences embodied in the wheelhouse cladding step  120  of  FIGS. 4-7 . The wheelhouse cladding step  120  includes a unique hinge  130  including a damper, dashpot or spring mechanism  160  for use in providing at least a balancing force during movement of the wheelhouse cladding step  120 . The wheelhouse cladding step  120  may include a step member  122  that may include a step member  122  the may preferably have a generally semi-circular or curvilinear shape. More particularly, the step member  122  may also preferably have a shape corresponding or matching the shape of the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  located along the upper periphery of the wheelhouse  7  of the vehicle  1 . In the present exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape and design appearance details of the step member  122  may also preferably be selected to closely match and blend with the shapes and design appearances of the panel  12  of the side  6  of the vehicle  1  and its related other trim and components. The step member  122  may also include an outer surface  121  designed to appear as a class A exterior trim/ornamental piece such that the wheelhouse cladding step  120  that may be as visually indistinguishable as reasonably as possible from the traditional wheelhouse cladding trim member not including a step. The step member  122  may further include an inner or stepping surface or member  123  preferably including a surface having a non-skid material, function (e.g., a treaded surface) to provide proper, convenient and safe usage as a step to access the roof  9  and/or cargo storage  15  of the vehicle  1 . 
     The step  122  of the wheelhouse cladding step  120  may be movable to and from the first closed position as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and wherein the outer or finish surface  121  generally covers or closes the wheelhouse cladding recess  13  to provide the class A finish to the panel  12  of the body side  6  of the vehicle  1 . The step  122  of the wheelhouse cladding step  20  may be movable to and from the second or open position as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  in which the stepping surface  123  is located generally horizontal to the vehicle  1  and is aligned with and facing away from the ground (i.e., generally upward) and wherein the outer or finish surface  121  is generally horizontally aligned with and facing toward the ground. In the second step position of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the step  122  is usable for supporting an individual at an elevated position from the ground and closer to the roof and/or cargo storage  15  located on the roof  9 . 
     Referring still in particular to the alternate exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4 through 7 , the step  122  may include first and second extension members  125  that are integrated and/or made unitary with the step  122 . Each extension member  125  is located proximal a respective end of the step  122  and generally extends arcuately from the inner side  123  of the step  122  as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The extension member  125  may pass through a hole or passage in the side  6  of the vehicle  1  proximal the side of the wheelhouse  7  or may be located within the wheelhouse  7 . A distal end of the extension member  125  may include an expanded portion or end  126  for limiting movement of the step  122  at the second position as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and for transferring forces applied to the step member  122  to the vehicle  1 . 
     As noted above, the hinges  130  couple or connect the step  122  to the vehicle  1  at the wheelhouse  7  of the vehicle  1 . A first hinge mechanism  130  may be located proximal one end of the wheelhouse  7  and a second hinge mechanism  130  may be located proximal the other end of the wheelhouse  7 . The first and second hinges  130  may preferably be located and/or coupled proximal the distal ends of the extension members  125  of the step  22  but may alternatively be coupled in other locations as may be appropriate for incorporating the wheelhouse cladding step  120  into the vehicle  1 . In the alternate exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4 through 7 , each hinge  130  of the wheelhouse cladding step  120  may preferably further include a link member  131  having a first end coupled or otherwise connected proximal the end  126  of the extension member  125  and a second end pivotably coupled to a post or coupling member  133  that may be fixed or coupled to the vehicle  1  such as to a component of the frame of the vehicle  1 . The post  133  may be coupled, integrated or made unitary into any of the frame, wheelhouse  7  or vehicle  1  in any known or appropriate design. In one alternate exemplary embodiment, the distal end of the link member  131  may preferably be pivotably coupled to the post  133  so that the post  133  may function as the pivot point the step member  122 . 
     As noted above, each hinge  130  may further include a spring mechanism  160  having a first or input end  163  coupled to a point between the proximal and distal ends of the link member  131  as best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . The spring mechanism  160  may preferably be a damped strut type device and may be, alternatively, any one of a compression, extension, or torsion spring(s) which accomplishes the objective to provide a limiting and/or biasing force against the movement of the step  122 . When the step member  122  is in the first or closed position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the spring mechanism  160  provides a biasing force against the movement of the step member away from the first position which helps to maintain the step member  122  in that position, in addition to, or in place of, any step latching mechanism  40 . Similarly, when the step member  122  is in the second or open position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), the spring mechanism  160  provides a biasing force against the movement of the step member away from the second position which helps to maintain the step member  122  in that position while it is in use as a step. The other end of the spring mechanism  160  may be coupled, integrated or made unitary into any of the frame, wheelhouse  7  or vehicle  1  in any known or appropriate design. 
     The present description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the exemplary embodiments provided will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art upon understanding the present disclosure. The scope of the claimed invention should not be determined with limiting reference to the description but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Any disclosure of an article or reference, including patent applications and publications, is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Any omission in the claims of any aspect of subject matter disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter. 
     Any numerical values recited herein or in the figures are intended to include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless expressly stated, all ranges are intended to include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “generally, “about” or “approximately”, or similar words, in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints. 
     The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps may be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step may include separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.