Retractable stairway for entering and exiting a vehicle

Details Retractable stairway for entering and exiting a vehicle Retractable stairway for entering and exiting a vehicle

1997-03-14

2001-01-30

Mar, Michael (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C105S444000, C105S447000, C182S018000, C182S088000, C182S127000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179312

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a retractable stairway assembly for entering and exiting a vehicle, in particular a truck, and to vehicles with such retractable stairway assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The design of many large vehicles, in particular cab-over-engine trucks, does not allow easy access into the cab of the vehicle. Often, the cab is positioned at a substantial height from the ground, making it nearly impossible for a passenger to just “step up” into the cab from the ground and requiring the passenger to jump out of the cab to the ground. This positioning makes access to and from the cab somewhat hazardous. Therefore, steps or some other type of foot support structure are necessary to allow a passenger to climb up into the cab and walk out of the cab. However, there is often little space available beneath the door to the cab for providing steps or the like because the door often is positioned almost directly above a forward wheel the truck.
Also, steps or the like that protrude from the side of the vehicle are unsatisfactory from an aerodynamic standpoint because they likely will decrease fuel mileage and increase emissions. Therefore, a need exists for a stairway that provides comfortable and safe access to and from the cab, while having reasonable aerodynamic characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable stairway assembly for entering and exiting a vehicle.
In accordance with the one aspect of the present invention, a retractable stairway assembly is coupled to a back face of a panel and includes a stairway having a plurality of steps with step surfaces. The stairway and panel are movable between a retracted position, in which the panel is aligned with a side portion of the vehicle and the stairway is behind the panel and the step surfaces face upwardly, and at least one extended position, in which the stairway is exposed to allow entering and exiting of the vehicle.
As another aspect of this invention, the assembly may include an actuator coupled to the stairway and operable to move the stairway between that retracted and extended positions.
As yet another aspect of this invention, the assembly may include a door position sensor and a stairway position controller operable in response to the door position sensor to cause the stairway to shift from the retracted position to an extended position upon opening the door and from the extended position to the retracted position upon closing the door.
As still another aspect of the invention, the assembly may include a stairway movement deactivator to block the movement of the stairway between the retracted and extended positions. More specifically, the deactivator may include a sensor operable to detect the presence of a person on the stairway or an obstacle in the movement path of the stairway and to block the retraction or extension of the stairway in response thereto.
As a further aspect of this invention, the vehicle has a side portion including a front quarter fender and a rear quarter fender that together define a wheel well, and the assembly forms at least a portion of the wheel quarter fender.
As yet another aspect of this invention, the panel and stairway may be pivotably mounted to the vehicle about an upright axis.
As still another aspect of this invention, the panel has at least one foot receiving opening adjacent one of the step surfaces to expose at least a portion of the adjacent step surface. As a result, a foot may be positioned through the foot receiving opening and onto the step to facilitate access to the cab when the stairway and panel are in the retracted position.
The present invention is directed toward the above objects, advantages, and features individually, as well as collectively. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the following description and figures.


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