Foldable footstool device for a vehicle

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§119 and/or 365 to 2000-77160 filed in Republic of Korea on Dec. 15, 2000; the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0003] The present invention is related to a footstool device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a foldable footstool device for a vehicle in which a footstool can be unfolded or folded in response to opening or shutting of door of a vehicle.

[0004] In general, a footstool for a vehicle is applied to a jeep, mini van and mini bus, the footstool is fixed to and protruded from a lower body located under the door of the vehicle so that a passenger to be take a vehicle can step on the footstool.

[0005] Such conventional footstool for the vehicle is always protruded from a side of the lower part of the vehicle, thus there is a defect that a width of the vehicle increases as much as a size of the protruded footstool.

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve a problem of the footstool of the vehicle as described above and to improve it.

[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide a foldable footstool device for a vehicle that can be unfolded when a door of the vehicle is opened and can be folded when the door of the vehicle is shut.

[0008] In order to achieve the above objects, the a foldable footstool device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a foldable footstool device for a vehicle comprising; a main beam fixed to a lower surface of a lower part of a vehicle and having hinge holes and stoppers at left and right sides thereof, respectively; a footstool installed rotatably about said hinge holes of the main beam and being supported by the stoppers; a first shaft extended from an end of the footstool; a link portion linking a lower inner wall of a door and a side sill of the lower part of the vehicle; a second shaft connected to the link portion in order to rotate in response to a rotation of the link portion; and a bevel gear part having a horizontal gear connected to the first shaft and a vertical gear connected to the second shaft.

[0009] The more pertinent and important features of the present invention have been outlined above in order that the detailed description of the invention which follows will be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention described hereinafter form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed herein may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art can realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

[0010] For full understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a foldable footstool device for a vehicle according to the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a foldable footstool device of FIG. 1 when a door is opened; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a foldable footstool device of FIG. 1 when a door is shut.

[0016] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout several views of the drawings.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a footstool device 1 of the present invention, a main beam 10 is fixed to a lower surface 2aof a lower body 2 of a vehicle by two fixing brackets 4. Each fixing bracket 4 is bent at a right angle, and each fixing bracket 4 is divided into a first and second parts 4aand 4bat both sides of the bending portion regarding as a reference. Two combining holes 4care formed at the first part 4aand the second part 4b, respectively. Each combining member 5 is combined with the combining hole 4cof the first part 4aof the each fixing bracket 4 so that the each fixing bracket 4 is fixed to the lower surface 2aof the lower part 2 of the vehicle. Two combining holes 11aare formed at vicinities of both edge portions of a front surface 11 of the main beam 10. The combining member 5 is combined with the combining hole 4cof the second part 4bof the fixing bracket 4 and the combining hole 11aof the main beam 10 so that the front surface 11 of the main beam 10 is fixed to the fixing bracket 4.

[0018] Hinge holes 13aand 14aare formed at left and right sides 13 and 14 of the main beam 10, respectively. At the right side 14 of the main beam 10, an extended portion 15 which is bent at a right angle is formed, a through hole 15ais formed at a center of the extended portion 15. Also, extended stoppers 16 and 17 are formed at lower ends of the left and right sides 13 and 14 of the main beam 10, respectively, buffer members 16aand 17amade of rubber are fixed to the stoppers 16 and 17, respectively. Two bumpers 18 are mounted at a center of the front surface 11 of the main beam 10, the bumper 18 is inserted in a hole 18bof a protruded portion 18aformed at the front surface 11 of the main beam 10.

[0019] A footstool 20 comprises a plate 21, support members 22 and 23 are formed at right and left sides of the plate 21, respectively. A hinge hole 22ais formed at the left support member 22 and an extended first shaft 25 is fixed to the right support member 23. The first shaft 25 is divided into two portions having different diameters from each other, a key 25ais formed at and protruded from a small diameter portion. A height of the key 25ais same as a large diameter portion. The hinge hole 13aof the left side 13 of the main beam 10 and the hinge hole 22aof the left support member 22 of the footstool 20 are connected from each other by a hinge pin 24, the first shaft 25 of the right support member 23 of the footstool 20 penetrates through the hinge hole 14aof the main beam 10. Thus, the footstool 20 can be rotated about the hinge holes 13aand 14aof the main beam 10. At this point, the hinge pin 24 is riveted after penetrating through the hinge holes 13aand 22a.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, a link portion 30 is located between a side sill 2bof the lower part 2 of the vehicle and a lower inner wall 3aof the door 3. The side sill 2bhas steps formed toward an inner side of the vehicle. The side sill 2band the lower inner wall 3aof the door 3 are formed such that a space is formed between the side sill and the lower inner wall when the door is shut. Accordingly, the link portion 30 and a shaft 38 are located in this space. When the door is shut, the door 3 is contacted with the side sill 2bat the lower inner wall 3aof the door 3 by a sealing portion 3bformed on the link portion 30 so that door is sealed with respect to the lower part 2 of the vehicle.

[0021] Again, referring to FIG. 1, and FIG. 2, the link portion 30 is constituted of a first bracket 31 fixed to the lower inner wall 3aof the door 3, a first link 32 linked to the first bracket 31, a second bracket 33 fixed to the side sill 2bof the lower part of the vehicle and a second link 34 linking the second bracket 33 and the first link 32. The first and second brackets 31 and 33 are bent at right angle, combining holes 31cand 33care formed on the first parts 31aand 33aof the brackets, respectively. A combining member 36 is combined with each of the combining holes 31cand 33cso that the first and second brackets 31 and 33 are fixed to the lower inner wall 3aof the door 3 and the side sill 2bof the lower part 2 of the vehicle, respectively. Also, a hinge hole 31dis formed at a second portion 31bof the first bracket 31, hinge holes 32aare formed at both ends of the first link 32 and a hinge hole 34ais formed at an end of the second link 34. The first bracket 31, the first link 32 and the second link 34 are connected from each other by inserting a hinge pin 37 into the hinge holes 31d, 32aand 34a. The hinge pin 37 is riveted after penetrating through the hinge holes 31d, 32aand 34a.

[0022] The second bracket 33 and the second link 34 are connected to each other by a second shaft 38. As shown in FIG. 2 which is an exploded view, the second bracket 33 is connected to the first shaft 38 by the hinge hole 33dformed at the second part 33b, a section of a hinge portion 38cof the second shaft 38 which is contacted with the hinge hole 33dof the second bracket 33 is circular shape. Also, the second link 34 is connected to the second shaft 38 by a rectangular shaped combining hole 34bformed at another end thereof, a section of a connecting portion 38bof the second shaft, which is contacted with the combining hole 34bof the second link 34, is a rectangular shape. Therefore, the second shaft 38 is rotated in response to a rotation of the second link 34. That is, when the door 3 of the vehicle is opened or shut, the link 34 is rotated in response to a rotation of the door 3, whereby the second shaft 38 is rotated. The second shaft 38 penetrates through a through hole 15aof the extended portion 15 of the main beam 10. A key 38ais formed at another end of the second shaft 38.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, a bevel gear part 40 is installed between the right side 14 of the main beam 10 and the extended portion 15. In the bevel gear part 40, a horizontal bevel gear 41 is meshed with a vertical bevel gear 42. The horizontal bevel gear 41 is fixed to the first shaft 25 of the footstool 20 which penetrates through the right side 14 of the main beam 10, and the vertical bevel gear 42 is fixed to the second shaft 38 connected to the second link 33 of the link portion 30. Keys 25aand 38aare formed at the first and second shafts 25 and 38, respectively, and key seats 41aand 42aare formed at the horizontal and vertical bevel gears 41 and 42, respectively. Therefore, the shafts and the gears are combined with each other and a rotation movement is transmitted.

[0024] An operation of the foldable footstool device of the present invention having a constitution as described above will be described in conjunction with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

[0025] First at all, when the door 3 in closed state opens, the first link 31 of the link portion 30 is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the second shaft 38 connected to the first link 31 is rotated in counterclockwise direction in response to the rotation of the first link. When the second shaft 38 is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the vertical bevel gear 42 connected to the second shaft is rotated in counterclockwise direction, and the horizontal bevel gear 41 meshed with the vertical bevel gear 42 is rotated in clockwise direction. Accordingly, the first shaft 25 of the footstool 20 connected to the horizontal bevel gear 41 is rotated in clockwise direction so that the footstool 20 is rotated downward. Also, since the stoppers 16 and 17 are formed at the main beam 10, the left and right support members 22 and 23 of the footstool 20 are supported by the stoppers 16 and 17 of the main beam 10, therefore, the left and right support members are not moved downwardly any more. Especially, a rotational shock impacted on the footstool 20 decreases due to the buffer members 16aand 17a.

[0026] To the contrary, when the door 3 in open state shuts, the first link 31 of the link portion 30 is rotated in clockwise direction, the second shaft 38 connected to the first link 31 is rotated in clockwise direction in response to the rotation of the first link. When the second shaft 38 is rotated in clockwise direction, the vertical bevel gear 42 connected to the second shaft is rotated in clockwise direction, and the horizontal bevel gear 41 meshed with the vertical bevel gear 42 is rotated in counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the first shaft 25 of the footstool 20 connected to the horizontal bevel gear 41 is rotated in counterclockwise direction so that the footstool 20 is rotated upward and then maintains in upright state. Also, even if the left and right support members 22 and 23 of the footstool 20 are rotated excessively, since the bumper 18 is mounted to the main beam 10, the left and right support members 22 and 23 are supported by the bumper 18 so that a rotational shock impacted on the footstool 20 decreases.

[0027] Here, a rotational angle of the footstool 20 with respect to an opening angle of the door 3 can be set by adjusting a gearing ratio of the bevel gear part 40.

[0028] In conclusion, the footstool 20 is rotated downward automatically in response to an opening of the door 3 and then supported by the stoppers 16 and 17 of the main beam 10, the footstool 20 is rotated upward in response to a shut of the door 3 and then is maintained in upright state.

[0029] According to the foldable footstool device for the vehicle of the invention as described above, the footstool is unfolded when the door is opened and the footstool is folded when the door is shut so that a width of the vehicle decreases in a state that the door is closed.

[0030] Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.