Patent Application
20190135186
This disclosure relates generally to vehicle safety and accessibility accessories, and, more particularly, to vehicle hub step apparatus.
Larger vehicles, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are designed to operate in rugged work environments. Designing for a rugged work environment can include increased clearance height underneath the truck and SUV. In some examples, trucks and SUVs are used to transport large, heavy objects, which are typically transported on the roof of the SUV or in the bed of the truck.
An example wheel hub step includes a radially-symmetric body having a first end to be adjacent a vehicle wheel and a second end opposite the first end. The wheel hub step also includes a wall extending between the ends and is approximately coaxial relative to a rotational axis of the vehicle wheel. The wall has an outer surface including a surface treatment to increase friction between footwear and the wheel hub step.
Another example wheel hub step includes means for stepping including an outer surface. The outer surface includes a surface treatment to increase friction between footwear and the wheel hub step. The wheel hub step also includes means for coupling the means for stepping to a vehicle wheel.
Another example apparatus includes a radially-symmetric wheel hub step extending from a vehicle wheel. The wheel hub step extends approximately coaxial relative to a rotational axis of the vehicle wheel including a solid, textured surface.
The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, or plate) is in any way positioned on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween. Stating that any part is in contact with another part means that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.
Vehicle manufacturers design vehicles, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), to be driven off-road. Driving off-road requires increased undercarriage clearance height and taller wheels to avoid brush, debris, and/or contact with uneven portions of the driving surface. An increased clearance height can make some tasks such as accessing the engine compartment difficult. Additionally, trucks and SUVs are used to transport various materials. These materials, when disposed in the truck bed or on the roof of the vehicle, can be difficult to reach.
To access the engine compartment, the bed of a truck, or the roof of a vehicle, people may step on a tire or a box side step of the vehicle. In some examples, the tire can be slippery due to rain, snow, mud, ice, or other detritus. While the box side step is safer than stepping on the tire of a vehicle, it is an expensive addition to a vehicle, and may not provide access to the full length of a truck bed, and does not provide any access to a vehicle engine compartment.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a wheel hub step is included with the wheel of a vehicle to improve access to a truck bed, a vehicle roof, and an engine compartment. In some examples, the wheel hub step includes a surface treatment to an outer surface of a solid wall of the wheel hub step. The surface treatment on the outer surface increases friction between footwear and the wheel hub step to reduce slippage between the footwear and the wheel hub step. Additionally, a wall of the wheel hub step is approximately coaxial relative to a rotational axis of the vehicle wheel (e.g., ±3°, ±7°, etc. with respect to the rotational axis) and radially-symmetric so the wheel hub step can be used at any angular position. The wheel hub step is a means for stepping. In other examples, the means for stepping can include other wheel hub step surface treatments, can include different step body shapes, and/or the step can extend various distances from the hub of the vehicle wheel.
In some examples, the wheel hub step is integral with the vehicle wheel. In other examples, the wheel hub step includes means for coupling the wheel hub step to the wheel hub. For example, the means for coupling can include fastening the wheel hub step to the wheel hub via the bolts that secure the wheel to the vehicle. In other examples, means for coupling can also be snap-fit connectors, keyed slots, slip-fit friction protrusions, quick disconnects, etc. In accordance with the present disclosure, the means for coupling and the wheel hub step are capable of supporting the full weight of a person and the additional weight of an object the person is carrying.
The example wheel hub step apparatus described herein is an improvement over stepping on the tire of a vehicle. For example, the wheel hub step is at a more ergonomic height compared to the top of a truck tire. Additionally, the wheel hub step can include a cover over a set of wheel fasteners to prevent the set of wheel fasteners from corroding. Further, the wheel hub step is also less expensive and, in some examples, more useful than a box side step.
As shown in
The example first front wheel 110 includes a rotational axis 152. The example first wheel hub step 120 includes a central axis 154. The rotational axis 152 and the central axis 154 are coaxial. In the illustrated example, the wheel hub steps 120, 124 are radially-symmetric. In such examples, the wheel hub steps 120, 124 can be used at any angular position. Additionally, in the illustrated example, a height 156 of the wheel hub steps 120, 124 relative to the ground 158 does not change with respect to angular position of the wheel 110.
The example wheel hub step has a depth 250 and a diameter 255. The depth 250 is large enough to properly function as a step, but not interfere with the function of the vehicle 100 of
The snap fit connectors 310, 312, 314, 316 are spaced to match a spacing of fasteners coupling the wheels 110, 112, 114, 116 to the vehicle 100 of
In some examples, the snap-fit connectors 310, 312, 314, 316 are directional snaps. For example, the snap-fit connectors may only couple or decouple to the fasteners when pushed or pulled along one axis, such as an axis 320. In such examples, the snap-fit connectors 310, 312, 314, 316 do not decouple when a force is applied to the wheel hub step 300 in a direction perpendicular to the axis 320 (e.g., when the wheel hub step supports the weight of a person). In some examples, the wheel hub step 300 can be decoupled and coupled to any of the wheels 110, 112, 114, 116 by hand by a person.
The wheel hub step 400 of
The example wheel 402 also includes an aperture 450 that is surrounded by the complementary apertures 430b, 432b, 434b, 436b, 438b, 440b. In some examples, the fasteners that couple the wheel 402 to the vehicle 100 of
In some examples, the wheel hub step 510 can include a cover 530 to protect a set of fasteners 540 from outside weather conditions. Additionally or alternatively, the example wheel 500 includes the set of fasteners 540 that additionally couple the wheel hub step 510 to the wheel 500. In the illustrated example, the fasteners 540 are disposed underneath the cover 530 and are represented via dashed lines. For example, the fasteners 540 may be nuts that couple the wheel 500 to the example vehicle 100 of
In some examples, the wheel hub step 610 can include a cover 630 to protect a set of fasteners 640 from outside weather conditions. Additionally or alternatively, the example wheel 600 includes the set of fasteners 640 that additionally couple the wheel hub step 610 to the wheel 600. For example, the fasteners 640 may be nuts that couple the wheel 600 to the example vehicle 100 of
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that example apparatus have been disclosed that provide a wheel hub step for improved access to vehicle engine compartments, roofs, and truck beds. In some examples, the wheel hub step includes a surface treatment to prevent slippage between footwear and the wheel hub step, providing a safe step to access difficult-to-reach areas of a vehicle. Additionally, the wheel hub step provides access to areas of the vehicle that running boards or side-box steps could not otherwise provide. Additionally, the height of the wheel hub step is at an ergonomic height, for improved user access.
Although certain example apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.
