Abstract:
A polymeric running board for an automotive vehicle is provided. The running board has a polymeric platform for supporting a vehicle occupant&#39;s foot during entry or exit of a lateral side door of the vehicle. The platform is connected to the vehicle by J-shaped support brackets which are co-molded therewith. The running board provided is advantageous over prior running boards in that it is lighter and easier to assemble, reducing assembly time and cost.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to running boards for automotive vehicles especially sport utility vehicles and light trucks, and more particularly, to polymeric molded running boards having integral polymeric support brackets. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the last two decades, many purchasers have turned from traditional cars, such as sedans and hatchbacks, choosing instead pick-up trucks or sport utility vehicles. Sport utility vehicles and light trucks traditionally have a higher clearance to allow the vehicle to have enhanced capabilities for off-road travel. Many vehicle purchasers also find that the higher vehicle floor is advantageous since it enhances the driver&#39;s field of vision. 
   Because of the higher clearance, many vehicles have what is referred to as a running board to provide a convenient step for individuals to utilize when entering and exiting the vehicle. Initially, most running boards consisted of an elongated tubular or channel metal member which was connected to a plurality of angled brackets. The brackets were in turn fixedly connected with the side rail of the vehicle. 
   In the most recent quarter century, a major technological effort has taken place to increase the fuel efficiency of automotive vehicles. One technical trend has been to address the fuel efficiency of the vehicle engine power plant. A second trend has been to improve the aerodynamic design of the vehicle to lower aerodynamic drag. A third trend has been to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle. 
   One way to reduce vehicular weight is to replace components of the vehicle which were previously provided by metals such as cast or stamped steel or aluminum, with polymeric materials. Not only do polymeric materials enhance the fuel efficiency of a vehicle by reducing its weight, but typically most polymeric materials are less susceptible to corrosive wear. In the past, polymeric running boards have been brought forth, however such running boards still require the utilization of metal brackets. 
   It is desirable to provide a running board wherein the platform as well as the support brackets can be fabricated from a lighter material. 
   It is desirable to bring forth a polymeric running board wherein the support brackets can also be fabricated from a polymeric material. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a running board for an automotive vehicle. The running board has a long, fiber-reinforced plastic platform to support the vehicle occupant&#39;s foot when entering or exiting the vehicle. The platform has a solid upper surface and generally perpendicular transverse webbing which is intercepted by longitudinal webbing for support of the solid upper surface. 
   The platform is supported by three spaced-apart J-shaped support brackets. The support brackets are also fabricated from long, fiber-reinforced plastic and are co-molded with the platform. The support brackets have an upper end which extends for connection to the vehicle and a lower end which extends laterally to connect to the platform. The support brackets have a triple channel configuration with the lateral sides of the channels extending into transverse webbing of the platform. 
   The running board of the present invention is advantageous over prior running boards in that it is lighter and easier to assemble, thus reducing assembly time and cost. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric running board for an automotive vehicle having integrally connected co-molded polymeric support brackets connected thereto. 
   Other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the invention is revealed in the accompanying drawings and detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sport utility vehicle utilizing the fiber-reinforced plastic polymeric running board with integral polymeric support brackets according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the running board shown in  FIG. 1  being partially sectioned and removed from the vehicle for clarity of illustration. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially sectioned top plan view of the polymeric running board shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned side elevational view of the running board shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partially sectioned front elevational view of the running board shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a partially sectioned view of a portion of an alternate preferred embodiment running board according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an operational view of a molding process utilized in producing a running board according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows an automotive vehicle  5 . The vehicle  5  has a lateral side  6  with side doors  8  and  10 . Vehicle  5  is a sport utility vehicle, however the vehicle could be a light truck such as a pick-up truck. Connected to the lateral side  6  is a running board  12 . The running board  12  provides a support step for individuals to utilize when entering or exiting the doors  8  or  10 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , the running board  12  has an elongated platform  14 , that extends along the lateral side  6  of the vehicle. The platform  14  is molded from a special polymeric material such as polypropylene or other suitable alternatives reinforced by glass or polyester fibers. Preferably, the fibers will be equal or greater than 12 millimeters in length. 
   The platform  14  has an upper solid surface  18 . The surface  18  provides the support for the vehicle occupant&#39;s foot. The surface  18  has a generally flat portion  20  which optionally rises up at its extreme ends  22 . The platform has an outboard side wall  24  and an inboard side wall  26 . 
   The upper solid surface  18  is reinforced by a series of transverse webs  27  ( FIG. 3 ) which are generally perpendicular to the upper solid surface  18  (taken along a line running longitudinally along the upper solid surface  18 ). The transverse webs  27  are integrally formed with the upper solid surface. 
   The upper solid surface  18  is also reinforced by a series of longitudinal webs  28 . Longitudinal webs  28  will be generally parallel with the draw line  30 . Accordingly, the longitudinal webs  28  will intersect with the solid surface  18  at an angle. 
   Referring additionally to  FIG. 5 , longitudinal webs  28  are angled along line  30  which is generally the drawing angle of the running board  12 . The drawing angle is typically between 0 and 150 degrees. Placing the webs at the inclined angle allows running board  12  to be manufactured in a single draw mold. 
   Typically, the thickness of the solid surface  18  will be 3 to 8 millimeters. The thickness of the transverse webs  27  will typically be 2 to 6 millimeters. The thickness of the outboard and inboard side walls  24 ,  26  will typically be 3 to 8 millimeters. 
   If desired, ribs  68  can be added to the solid surface  18  to provide greater friction with the pedal portion of the vehicle operator or occupant. 
   Turning again to  FIG. 2 , the running board  12  has two and preferably at least three polymeric support brackets  40  as determined by structural analysis and dependent on load requirements. The support brackets  40  are generally J-shaped having an upper end  42 . The support bracket upper end  42  is provided for connection to the lateral side  6  of the vehicle. The support brackets  40  have a lower transversely extending end  44 . The lower end  44  is integrally connected to the platform  14 . The brackets  40  are co-molded with the platform  14 . 
   The brackets  40  are a triple channel design having outer channels  48  and inner channels  50 . The outer channels  48  open toward the vehicle  5 . The thickness of the brackets  40  is between 3 and 8 millimeters. The outer channels  48  have a width that in the example shown is 110 to 130 percent of the width  52  of the juxtaposed inner channel  50 . 
   The channels  48 ,  50  have lateral side walls  54  having a length  56  that generally increases between 18 and 25 percent along the bracket lower end  44 . The brackets  40  have oblong fastener mounting holes  60  along an inboard side of the channels  48 . The oblong nature of the fastener holes  60  provides for fine tune positional adjustment of the running board  12  on the vehicle  5 . The channel lateral walls  54  are continuous with the transverse webs  27 . In many instances the lateral walls  54  have the same thickness as the transverse webs  27 . 
     FIG. 6  shows an alternate preferred embodiment platform  13 , which has transverse webs  27  as previously described. In an area adjacent to a support bracket  41 , the side wall  69  of the bracket  41  has an increased thickness which extends inward to form transverse web  29 . Additionally, interior side wall  25  has an aperture  63  to allow for drainage of precipitation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a molding apparatus for the running board  12  is schematically shown. Mold  80  has an upper half  82  and lower half  84 . The lower half  84  has a cavity  86 . The upper half  82  has a mold form  88  which projects into the cavity  86  to provide the form for the running board  12 . 
   The upper half  82  also has a cavity portion  90 . The upper half  82  is moved vertically in the direction of draw line  30 . Upon closure of the upper half  82  with the lower half  84 , molten plastic is injected through injector line  92  to form the running board  12 . The running board  12  will be formed with a platform  14  and a bracket  40 . 
   As mentioned previously, the present invention provides a running board  12  wherein the platform  14  and support bracket are integrally connected. The integral running board and support brackets provide a 20% or greater weight advantage over a comparable metal running board and bracket assembly. 
   Although the present invention has been shown in a preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the various modifications which can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims.