US-12623603-B2 - Support devices for facilitating access to a vehicle and related methods

US12623603B2US 12623603 B2US12623603 B2US 12623603B2US-12623603-B2

Abstract

A support device and components thereof can include a stepping cover attached a support frame. The support device has a length that is shorter than the length of a side of the vehicle between the front and rear wheel wells to facilitate access to a single vehicle door of a multiple door vehicle, such as a rear passenger door of a four-door vehicle. The support frame of the support device may be configured to be mounted to the underbody of the vehicle, and the stepping cover is configured to provide a stepping surface for the passenger to use the support device.

Inventors

Robert Crandall
Dany Smith

Assignees

CORD GROUP, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221027

Claims (17)

1 . A support device for a passenger door of a vehicle comprising: a stepping cover attached to a support frame that is configured to fasten to an underbody section of the vehicle near the passenger door; the stepping cover having a stepping surface defined by a primary edge located between a rear edge and a front edge, wherein the primary edge has an edge section that tapers towards the front edge and the stepping cover having an engaging edge with a plurality of male detents; the support frame comprising: a mounting section having a first set of bolt holes on a first surface level, a second set of bolt holes on a second surface level higher, elevation-wise, than the first surface level, and a set of openings providing routes to an underside of the support frame along a boundary between the mounting section and a supporting section, the supporting section disposed laterally outward relative to the mounting section; the supporting section having a shape for accepting the stepping cover and being located on a surface that is lower, elevation-wise, than the second surface level of the mounting section; and the underside having a detent lip proximate each of the set of openings near the boundary; and wherein the plurality of male detents engage the plurality of detent lips.
2 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the support device has a length that is less than 65% of a length of the vehicle between front and rear wheel wells of the vehicle.
3 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting section further includes a set of fastening holes on the second surface level, and the engaging edge has a corresponding set of fastening holes configured for fastening the stepping cover to the support frame.
4 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting section has a cut-out for a jacking point of the vehicle.
5 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein a reinforcing frame surrounds each of the first and second set of bolt holes.
6 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the stepping surface has a plurality of surface textures protruding outwards from the stepping surface.
7 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the support frame is made from a polypropylene compound having a percentage of glass fiber.
8 . The support device of claim 7 , wherein the stepping cover is made from a thermoplastic polyolefin compound.
9 . A support device for a passenger door of a vehicle comprising: a stepping cover attached to a support frame that is configured to fasten to an underbody section of the vehicle; the stepping cover having a body with a stepping surface, a skirt depending from the stepping surface, and a riser extending upwardly of the stepping surface; the support frame having a mounting section having a first set of bolt holes on a first surface level, a second set of bolt holes on a second surface level higher, elevation-wise, than the first surface level, and a supporting section disposed outward from the mounting section comprising a mounting surface and a side surface below the mounting surface; wherein the stepping surface of the stepping cover overlies the mounting surface of the supporting section and the skirt covers at least part of the side surface below the mounting surface; and wherein the support frame has a length that is less than 65% of a length of the vehicle between front and rear wheel wells of the vehicle.
10 . The support device of claim 9 , wherein the support device occupies only an area under the passenger door of the vehicle.
11 . A support device for a passenger door of a vehicle comprising: a stepping cover attached to a support frame that is configured to fasten to an underbody section of the vehicle; the stepping cover having a body with a stepping surface, a skirt depending from the stepping surface, and a riser extending upwardly of the stepping surface; the support frame having a mounting section having a first set of bolt holes on a first surface level, a second set of bolt holes on a second surface level higher, elevation-wise, than the first surface level, and a supporting section comprising a mounting surface and a side surface below the mounting surface; wherein the stepping surface of the stepping cover overlies the mounting surface of the supporting section and the skirt covers at least part of the side surface below the mounting surface; and wherein the support frame has a length that is less than 65% of a length of the vehicle between front and rear wheel wells of the vehicle, wherein the support frame has a cut-out for a jacking point of the vehicle.
12 . The support device of claim 9 , wherein the support frame has a cut-out that interrupts a continuous edge of the mounting section.
13 . A method of manufacturing a support device of claim 1 .
14 . A method of manufacturing a support device of claim 9 .
15 . A method of using a support device of claim 1 .
16 . A method of using a support device of claim 9 .
17 . The support device of claim 1 , wherein the front edge has a narrower width than the rear edge such that the edge section is tapered according to the relative widths of the front edge and the rear edge.

Description

FIELD OF ART The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating entry and exit from a vehicle. BACKGROUND Vehicles provide transportation for people and objects over distances. While many vehicles are low to the ground or have otherwise easily accessible passenger compartments, some do not and entry and exit may present a challenge. Typical examples of vehicles with more difficult access to passenger compartments include pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, “raised” or “lifted” automobiles and others. In these types of vehicles, the passenger compartment or compartments may be located at a height which makes entry and exit challenging for children, the elderly or infirm, and even for normal abled-body adults. Various solutions are available for addressing the access issue to a passenger's compartment including the use of running boards, attached step-ladders, handles to assist a passenger in pulling themselves up, and others. However, existing solutions can use improvements. SUMMARY A support device attached outside of a passenger door of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The support device may have two main components: a stepping cover and a support frame. The stepping cover is configured to be attached on top of the support frame and provide a surface for the passenger to step on to enter and exit the passenger compartment of the vehicle or to reach the rooftop of the vehicle. The support frame has a plurality of bolt holes configured to fasten the support device to the underbody of the vehicle near the passenger doors. The support device is configured to attach and occupy the region around a single passenger door, and a plurality of support devices may be used with the vehicle for each passenger door. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages of the present devices, systems, and methods will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and appended drawings wherein: FIG. 1A is a side partial perspective view of a vehicle with a support device mounted next to the rear passenger door, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 1B is a side partial perspective view of another vehicle with the support device mounted next to the rear passenger door, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 1C is a side partial perspective view of a vehicle with a plurality of support devices mounted next to the passenger doors, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 1D is a side partial perspective view of another vehicle with a plurality of support devices mounted next to the passenger doors, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3C is a top view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3D is a front view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3E is a side view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3F is a bottom view of the support frame of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a stepping cover of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 4B is a top view of the stepping cover of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 4C is a front view of the stepping cover of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 4D is a side view of the stepping cover of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 4E is a bottom view of the stepping cover of the support device, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of the support device having a mounting assembly incorporated, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view of the support device having a mounting assembly incorporated, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 5C is a bottom view of the support device placed next to the underbody of the vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the support device mounted by the mounting assembly to the underbody of the vehicle, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5E is a bottom close-up view of the support device with a detent lip engaging and interlocking with a male detent. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method of using the support device to get inside