Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to mechanically-operated foot-steps for automobiles. In particular, the present invention relates to mechanically-operated foot-steps disposed under the doors of automobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to mechanically-operated foot-steps to be opened or retracted under the automobile doors and which is operated by the door opening/closing mechanism/s thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many automobiles, which have sufficient ground clearance, which necessitates equipping them with foot-steps under the doors. This is particularly important in larger vehicles like Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

However, these foot-steps often get damaged while the automobile travels cross-country or moves over on treacherous terrain because sharp projections/edges on the terrain may hit against these foot-steps.

Therefore, electrically-operated foot-steps are provided to that these can be opened whenever the passenger/s would like to alight from the automobile and subsequently retracted while travelling over such terrains to prevent any damage thereto.

Currently available foot-steps are mostly using electric motors and sensors for opening or retracting the foot-steps under the automobile doors. This increases the cost of manufacture of the automobiles because such foot-step opening/closing mechanism/s are separate from the door opening/closing mechanisms of the automobiles.
However, by reducing the cost of manufacture of the door opening/closing mechanism/s as well as the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism/s, there is a high probability of reducing the overall cost of the automobile manufacture.

Therefore, there is an existing need for developing an improved foot-step opening/retracting mechanism, which can be operated by the existing door opening/closing mechanism of the automobiles.

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to configure a foot-step opening/retracting mechanism, which can be operated to open/retract the foot-step disposed under the automobile door operated by the existing automobile door opening/closing mechanism itself.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically operated foot-test mechanism which is actuated by the automobile door opening/closing mechanism itself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically operated foot-test mechanism which is retrofitted to be actuated by the existing automobile door opening/closing mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost mechanically operated foot-test mechanism coordinating to be actuated by the automobile door opening/closing mechanism.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mechanically operated foot-step opening/retracting mechanism under automobile door connected to the door opening/closing mechanism thereof, the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism comprises:

(a) a rotatable/turnable foot-step disposed under the door automatically opened or retracted on opening or closing the door; and

(b) a door suspended on a door hinge for opening or closing the door;

(c) a foot-step opening/retracting mechanism for opening or retracting the foot-step as and when the door is opened or closed;

wherein the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism is connected to the door hinge for opening or retracting the foot-step in coordination with the opening or closing of the door.

Typically, the door hinge is connected, e.g. by welding, to the driving rod of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism.

Typically, the first end of the driving rod is connected, e.g. by welding, to the rod of the door hinge and the second end thereof is mounted with a bevel gear engaged with a helical gear for transmitting the rotation thereof to the helical gear.
Typically, the helical gear is mounted at the first end of a driven shaft disposed perpendicular to the driving rod with bevel gear.

Typically, the driven shaft is supported at both ends thereof in bearings housed in a respective bracket fixed on the door-frame or Body-In-White (BIW).

Typically, the second end of the driven shaft is mounted with a pinion for transmitting the rotation thereof to the foot-step.

Typically, the foot-step comprises a rod fixed thereon and projecting away therefrom to carry a worm and worm wheel for engagement with the pinion mounted on the driven shaft.

Typically, the bracket is a L-type bracket with one end thereof welded to the door-frame or BIW and the other end thereof carries a bearing housing.

Typically, the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism is connected, e.g. by welding, to the rear-door of an automobile, e.g., Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

Typically, the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism is connected, e.g. by welding to the side-door of an automobile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary automobile equipped/retrofitted with a foot-step actuated retracted under the rear-door thereof by means of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention, which is operated by the door opening/closing mechanism thereof.

Figure 2 shows the partially opened the foot-step actuated by the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention, and operated by the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the fully deployed/opened foot-step actuated by the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention, which is operated by the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the connection between the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism and the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In the following, a Fuel Tank Breathing Booster Unit (FTBBU) configured in accordance with the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary automobile equipped/retrofitted with a foot-step FS retracted under the rear-door D thereof by means of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention, connected to door hinge DH of door opening/closing mechanism.

Figure 2 shows the partially opened the foot-step FS actuated by the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention, connected to door hinge DH of the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the fully deployed/opened foot-step FS actuated by the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention, connected to door hinge DH of by the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the connection between the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism and the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention. The foot-step 10 is open here and includes a projected rod 12 connected thereto, which carries a helical gear or worm wheel 14 for its engagement to the gear and pinion of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 comprises a driving shaft 60 joined vertically, e.g. by welding, at one end 62 thereof to the lower door hinge DH of the automobile door D and fitted with a bevel gear 64 at the other end thereof. A driven shaft 70 is horizontally rotatable within a respective bearing 66, 68 fitted adjacent either end thereof. The bearings 66, 68 are mounted on a corresponding bracket 52, 54 joined under the doorframe DF of the automobile A (Fig. 4). For-example, the bracket is a L-type bracket with the first end thereof welded under the door-frame of BIW and the other end thereof carrying a bearing housing accommodating bearing. This horizontal shaft 70 is mounted with a respective pinion 72, 74 adjacent outer ends thereof. One of these pinions, i.e. pinion 74 engages with the bevel gear 64 and the other pinion, i.e. pinion 72 engages with the helical gear/worm wheel 14 carried on rod 12 of foot-step FR. The foot-step 10 only partially shown in Figs. 5-7 below.

Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention. Here, the components and their assembly and interrelationship of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 is clearly visible, as described for Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 configured in accordance with the present invention. Here also, the different components and their assembly and interrelationship of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism 50 is clearly visible, as described and shown in Figure 5 above.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention. The various components and their assembly and interrelationship is clearly visible from this figure as well, as already described and shown in Figures 4-6 above.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION

In an automobile A equipped/retrofitted with the foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention and connected to the automobile rear-door opening/closing mechanism thereof, whenever the door D is opened, the rod 60 connected to lower door hinge DH rotates and thereby rotating the bevel gear 64 mounted at the lower end thereof. This in turn rotates the pinion 74 connected to the horizontal rod 70 supported on bearings 66, 68. The rotation of this horizontal rod 70 rotates the pinion 72 mounted at the outer end thereof, which in turn rotates the helical gear or worm wheel 14 mounted on foot-step rod 12 connected to the foot-step 10, finally rotates to open the foot-step 10 disposed under door D. When worm and worm wheel 14 is used in place of helical gear than the footstep 10 rotates by rotating the door D, however the door D can’t be rotated by rotating the footstep 10, i.e. the worm and worm wheel 14 allows the motion by only rotating the door D. Therefore, the advantage of worm and worm wheel 14 is that it is not possible to open the door D by rotating the footstep 10 but footstep 10 can be rotated by opening the door D. The reverse movements occur when the door D is closed, and thereby the foot-step 10 is retracted under the door D of the automobile A.

Although, the present invention is explained with the help of a rear-door of the automobile, it should be understood that this principle can also be applied to any of the automobile doors, which need a respective foot-step to be opened/closed or retracted as per the convenience of the passenger/s.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention equipped/retrofitted under the automobile door for opening/retracting the foot-step offers the following advantages:

• Low-cost mechanical construction having simple components.

• Eliminates electrical motor and wirings required therefor, as found in the conventional electrically-operated foot-step opening/closing mechanism.
• Utilizes the existing door opening/closing arrangement by simple modification therein.

• Makes it possible to retrofit such mechanically-operated foot-step opening/retracting mechanism in the existing door opening/closing mechanisms.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention.

Although, the embodiments presented in this disclosure have been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize that these embodiments can be applied with modifications possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification by making innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies, in terms of their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the corresponding apparatus or device be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship, wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. , Claims:We claim:

1. A mechanically operated foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50), said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) comprises:

(a) a rotatable/turnable foot-step (10) disposed under a door (D) to be automatically opened or retracted on opening or closing said door (D);

(b) said door (D) suspended on a door hinge (DH) for opening or closing said door (D); and

(c) said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) opening or retracting said foot-step (10) as and when said door (D) is opened or closed;

wherein said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) is connected to said door hinge (DH) for opening or retracting said foot-step (10) in coordination with the opening or closing of said door (D).

2. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said door hinge (DH) is connected, e.g. by welding, to a driving shaft (60) of said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50).

3. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first end (62) of said driving shaft (60) is connected, e.g. by welding, to the pivot rod of said door hinge (DH) and the second end said driving shaft (60) is mounted with a bevel gear (64) engaged with a first pinion (74) for transmitting the rotation of said driving shaft (60) to said pinion (74).

4. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first pinion (74) is mounted at the first end of a driven shaft (70) perpendicular to said driving rod (60) mounted with said bevel gear (64).
5. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said driven shaft (70) is supported at both ends thereof in bearings housed in a respective bracket (52, 54) fixed on the door-frame (DF) or Body-In-White (BIW).

6. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second end of driven shaft (70) is mounted with a second pinion (72) for transmitting rotation of said driven shaft (70) to said foot-step (10).

7. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said foot-step (10) comprises a rod (12) fixed thereon and projecting away therefrom to carry a worm and worm wheel (14) for engagement with said second pinion (72) mounted on said driven shaft (70).

8. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said brackets (52, 54) is an L-type bracket with one end thereof welded to the door-frame (DF) or BIW and the other end thereof carries a respective bearing housing (66, 68).

9. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) is connected, e.g. by welding, to the rear-door of an automobile, e.g., Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

10. The foot-step opening/retracting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot-step opening/retracting mechanism (50) is connected, e.g. by welding to the side-door of an automobile.

Dated this 06th day of February 2023.

Digitally / e-Signed by:

(SANJAY KESHARWANI)
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT
REGN. NO. IN/PA-2043.