Abstract:
A removable running board for a vehicle that includes a quick-release mechanism for disengaging the running board from the vehicle, the disengaged running board adapted to serve as a loading ramp for loading the vehicle with cargo or a vehicle bridge for emergency crossing of a hazard.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention is directed generally to vehicle accessories, and in particular to removable vehicle running boards adapted to be used as a loading ramp and the like. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The use of running boards on vehicles such as vans, pickup trucks, and fur wheel drive vehicles is a well established practice. Running boards make it easier to enter and exit some vehicles, especially those with high clearance, as well as making roof access easier. Running boards can help protect the sides of the vehicle from road debris, and they are also used by some to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle&#39;s exterior. However, aside from the functions described above, the applicant is not aware of any additional uses for running boards in the prior art. 
     A loading ramp for vehicles is used to transfer cargo from one elevation to another from the ground to a truck flatbed. With certain cargo, due to weight constraints or other reasons, it is impractical to transport the cargo via vehicle without the use of a loading ramp. However, it is inconvenient to carry the loading ramp with the cargo as it diminishes the effective spatial and weight cargo capacity of the vehicle. Further, in the case of a pickup there may be no practical way to store the loading ramp to prevent then or mischief while the owner is away from the vehicle. There is a need in the art for a way to both store a loading ramp effectively and make use of the loading ramp in a secondary manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a board mountable on the side of a vehicle with a release mechanism for quick disengagement from the vehicle. The removable running board when mounted on the vehicle serves as both a stop to enter or exit the vehicle as well as a shield to protect the sides of the vehicles from road debris. When disengaged from the side of the vehicle, the removable running boards are adapted to be additionally used as loading ramps for boring cargo from the ground to the vehicle (especially a truck flatbed) and back. By serving a dual purpose, the present invention saves weight by eliminating the need to carry a separate loading ramp and provides the convenience of always having a loading ramp available. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The exact nature of this invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in its capacity as a board; 
     FIG. 2 is another view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in its capacity as a loading ramp; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of a pin used to secure the loading ramps together; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of a mounting bracket for the running boards; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevated side view, partially cut away, of the engagement between the mounting bracket and the running board; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevated side view, partially cut away, of the engagement between the mounting bracket and the running board in the locked position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of protective covering for the running board; 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration of the slip resistant surface on the loading ramp engaging surfaces; and 
     FIG. 9 is an elevated perspective view of a cross-section of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a quick release running board for a vehicle that duels as a loading ramp. 
     The terms “running board” and “loading ramp” in this description refer to the planks which serve the particular purpose being discussed and are used interchangeably throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. A pair of running boards  100  adorn each side of a vehicle  101  providing a utility step for ingress and egress from the vehicle. The running boards  100  also facilitate access to the top of a vehicle  101  and, if necessary, allow the operator of the vehicle a mode to access the rear of the vehicle without stepping on the ground below. Further, because the running boards  100  extend horizontally from the plane defined by the side of the vehicle, the running boards  100  shield the upper portion of the sides  102  of the vehicle from rocks, gravel, dirt, and other road debris while the vehicle  101  is in motion. In the preferred embodiment, the running board  100  has generally flat upper  103  and lower  104  surfaces and extends eight to twelve feet in length, although the invention is not limited to any particular length and other lengths are within the scope of the present invention. The generally flat upper surface  103  may include a slip-resistant surface (not shown) to prevent a user from slipping on the step should it become wet or cold. The slip resistant surface may be a thin sheet placed on top of the running board, such as an adhesive-back frictional surface, or may be a textured surface of the actual running board itself. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the running boards  100  depicted in FIG. 1 after the running boards  100  have been removed from the sides of the vehicle  101  using a quick release mechanism described more fully below. As shown in FIG. 2, the running boards  100  have been placed side-by-side with a first end  105  in contact with the ground and a second end  106  seated on the tailgate  107  of a truck bed  108 . In this configuration, the running boards  100  form a sturdy loading ramp for transferring cargo to the truck bed  108 . As can be appreciated in FIG. 2, the ends  105 , 106  of the running board/loading ramp  100  are formed so as to lie with a portion of the running board  100  flush against the ground while the opposite end of the running board  100  forms a horizontal transition portion  109  from the incline region to the truck bed. Contact surfaces  110  on the loading ramps that engage the ground and the truck tailgate preferably include a slip resistant surface to prevent the loading ramp from sliding while in use (see FIG.  8 ). The slip resistant surface  110  can be added to the surface of the loading ramp contact surface or be a textured pattern imparted directly on the surface itself. 
     The angular dimensions of the first end portion  105  contact surface transition from the ground to the loading ramp and the second end portion  106  from the incline to the truck bed  108  can be established by using the height of the truck bed and the length of the loading ramp  100 . In this manner the contact surfaces can be made to lie flat on the respective mating surface and, accordingly, the loading ramps  100  provide a smooth transition from the ground level to the truck bed level. 
     The two running boards  100  when placed in the configuration of FIG. 2 provide a ramp for moving cargo into and out of the truck bed  108 . The running boards  100  when laid side by side may allow for a gap  111  between the two ramps  100 . The gap  111  is small and does not affect the performance of the ramps  111 , and can increase the overall effective width of the ramp. To secure the ramps  100  and prevent the ramps from moving laterally or separating while in use, a first and second pairs of holes  112  aligned at the innermost edges of the two loading ramps  100  are used in connection with two “U”-shaped pins  113  (see FIG. 3) that are inserted into the holes  112  to stabilize the loading ramps  100 . The pins  113  are inserted into the holes  112  and held by gravity to prevent the ramps  100  from spreading apart. Further, a tether (not shown) from the vehicle trailer hitch (not shown), for example, to the crossbar  114  of the “U”-shaped pin  113  can secure the pin and further ensure that the ramps do not move or tip while in use. The “U”-shaped pin  113  acts as an anchor for the tether to provide a location for a tension force on the ramps to stabilize the assembly. 
     The upper surface  103  of the loading ramps  100 , which in the preferred embodiment are the lower surface of the running boards, may include a slip resistant surface for additional security against inclement conditions or particularly heavy cargos. As further shown in FIG. 2, each loading ramp  100  preferably includes a pair of mounting brackets  116  used to secure the loading ramps  100  to the vehicle sides in their role as running boards as described more fully below. 
     Turning to FIGS. 4-6, the quick release mechanism for holding the running boards  100  to the vehicle  101  will be described in greater detail. The feature includes a mounting bracket  117  illustrated in FIG. 4 that may be mounted to the frame of the vehicle  101 . The bracket  117  comprises a mounting plate  118  with holes  119  sized to accommodate fasteners (not shown) that rigidly secure the bracket  117  to the vehicle frame, and a running board support  120  member to hold the running board. A pair of reinforcing plates  121  may be preferably used to join the mounting plate  118  with the running board support member  120  to provide additional load capability needed when the running board  100  carries a load. The running board support member  120  preferably includes an upper surface  122  and opposed side walls  123  formed of a unitary construction to provide sufficient load bearing capacity for the running boards  100  plus the weight of a person using the running board as a step. 
     The running board support member  120  projects horizontally from the mounting plate  118  to just behind the plane defined by the side of the vehicle. The running board support member  120  preferably includes on its upper surface  122  a catch  124  for receiving the tab  125  at the leading edge of the running board  100 , as can be seen more easily in FIGS. 5 and 6. The aperture  126  in the catch  124  and the aperture  127  in the running board support member  120  are aligned and sized to receive a locking pin  128  therein. The locking pin  128  can be triggered by raising and lowering the lever  129  located at the distal end  130  of the running board support member  120  opposite the mounting plate  118 . The lever  129  operates a spring mechanism (not shown) that causes the locking pin  128  to retract and protrude through the two apertures  126 ,  127 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a preferred manner of releasebly locking the running boards  100  to the vehicle  101  using the mounting bracket  117  just described. With at least a pair of mounting brackets  117  on each side of the vehicle  101  and bolted or otherwise secured to the underside of the vehicle, the running board  100  may be set on the running board support members  120  to support the weight of the running board  100 . As the running board  100  is brought in proximity with the catch  124  on the support member  120 , the tab  125  running generally the length of the running board  100  engages the catch  124  and stops the progress of the running board  100 . The catch  124  and tab  125  serve to stabilize and secure the running board  100  on its support member  120  as shown in FIG. 6. A second catch  131  on the underside  132  of the running board  100  is preferably located and oriented such that, when the tab  125  engages the first catch  124  on the support member  120 , the second catch  131  engages the support member  120  from below further securing the two elements. A hole  133  on the tab  125  of the running board  100  is sized to receive the locking pin  128  of the mounting bracket  117  such that, when the hole  133  on the running board  100  is aligned with the apertures  126 , 127  on the mounting bracket  117  and the lever  129  is operated to engage the locking pin  128 , the locking pin  128  passes through the hole  133  on the running board  100  and locks the running board  100  onto the support member  120  (see FIG.  6 ). In a like manner, the running board  100  can be disengaged quickly from the mounting brackets  117  by first retracting the locking pin  128  via the lever  129 , and then withdrawing the running board  100  from the catch  124 . 
     In addition to the above described quick release locking mechanism, other methods of securing the running board  100  to the vehicle  101  may be used without deviating from the present invention. For example, a solenoid may replace the mechanical operation of the lever such that the locking pin  128  operation is handled electronically. This feature allows for additional security measures such as the necessity of a security code to release the running boards, although security measures for controlling the mechanical embodiment is anticipated and within the scope of the present invention. 
     The construction of the running boards/loading ramps  100  are preferably achieved by a single piece extrusion process with the ends  18 , 19  capped to make the running boards air-tight. The material should be chosen to afford sufficient strength for the desired loading requirements while mindful of the ever present goal of weight reduction in a vehicle  101 . In a preferred embodiment, the running boards  100  are made of a steel alloy and, where the ends  18 , 19  of the running boards have been capped to create an airtight interior or the material floats, the running boards may also be used as emergency floatation devices in an emergency. Additionally, the running boards  100  once removed from the vehicle  101  can be used as a bridge to allow the vehicle to cross a small tributary, hole, or other impediment. 
     As with the style with most current running boards, most of the running board will typically be hidden from view (behind the plane defined by the side of the vehicle) with only a portion of the running board in view. To vary the appearance of the running boards and make the running boards more aesthetically pleasing, a cover  134  (see FIG. 7) may be employed over the exposed portion of the running board  100 . The cover  134  can protect the running board  100  and provide a more stylish look to the running boards. 
     The present invention may be altered in dimension and strength according to its anticipated use. For example, a mini-pickup truck with a short truck bed is typically lower to the ground than larger trucks. Its cargo may be of a smaller weight such as a lawnmower or mini-bike. A suitable ramp (and running board) could be a narrower, lightweight ramp with little or no support braces. Alternatively, a large four-wheel drive pickup truck with significantly more load capacity may be hauling a large all terrain vehicle or jet skis, requiring a wide ramp with heavy load capability. In this case, the ramp  100  will typically include a plurality of internal brace elements  135  (see FIG. 9) for greater structural integrity. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.