JPH049236Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention is an automobile step that can be locked to the vehicle body when the step plate is in a retracted position that is inside the outer surface of the vehicle body. This invention relates to a locking device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there is a step for an automobile in which a step plate is provided below a door opening formed on the side of the car body, and this step plate can be freely moved in and out from the outer side of the car body. There are those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In FIG. 5, 1 is the body of a car, and the arrow Fr in each figure indicates the front of the car. A side door 2 is provided on the side surface of the vehicle body 1. This side door 2 is a door opening 4 formed in the vehicle body 1.
and can freely move back and forth along the outer surface of the vehicle body 1 (the fifth
The door opening 4 is opened by moving the sliding door 5 backward, and the door opening 4 is closed by moving the sliding door 5 forward. . Further, the side door 2 is provided with a step 6. This step 6 has a step plate 8 rotatably supported below the door opening 4, and this step plate 8 extends outward from the outer side surface 1a of the vehicle body in conjunction with the movement of the sliding door 5. It is retractable (as shown by arrow B in Fig. 5).

The step plate 8 will be explained in more detail mainly with reference to FIG.

A bracket 10 is protruded from the lower surface of the vehicle body 1 below the door opening 4, and the step plate 8 is supported on the bracket 10 by a pivot shaft 11 so as to be horizontally rotatable. If this step plate 8 is rotated to the outside of the vehicle body, the step plate 8 will move to the outside surface 1 of the vehicle body.
It is in a protruding posture (indicated by solid lines in each figure) in which it protrudes outward from the vehicle body more than a. Moreover, if it is rotated inward of the vehicle body, it assumes a retracted position (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6) in which it is retracted further into the vehicle body than the outer surface 1a of the vehicle body.

When the step plate 8 is placed in the protruding or retracted position, a positioning means (not shown) is provided which restricts further rotation of the step plate 8 and positions the step plate 8 in each position.

An interlocking roller 14 is provided on the sliding door 5 so as to correspond to the step plate 8 in the protruding position. When the sliding door 5 is moved forward from the rear of the door opening 4, the interlocking roller 14 also moves forward in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 4 and comes into contact with the rear end of the step plate 8. Then, the interlocking roller 14 pushes the step plate 8 in the direction shown by the arrow D in FIG. 6, whereby the step plate 8 assumes the retracted position (as shown by the arrow E in FIG. 6).

A locking device 16 is provided for locking the step plate 8 to the side door 2 in this position when the step plate 8 is in the retracted position. That is, the lock device 16 has a lock arm 17, which is rotatably supported on the step plate 8 by a pivot shaft 18. On the other hand, bracket 1
A lock pin 2, which is a member to be locked, is located on the front lower surface of the
2 is provided protrudingly.

When the step plate 8 is in the retracted position, if the lock arm 17 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow F in FIG. It becomes the first rotational posture where it locks into the position.

If the lock arm 17 is rotated from the above state in the direction opposite to that shown by arrow G in FIG. It becomes the second rotational posture in which the is unlocked. A regulating pin 24 is provided protruding from the step plate 8 in order to restrict further rotation of the lock arm 17 which brings the step plate 8 into the unlocked state.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, when the step plate 8 is in the protruding position,
By erroneously operating the lock arm 17, the lock arm 17 is rotated to the first rotation position (as shown by arrow H in FIG. 6).
When the step plate 8 is rotated from the protruding position to the retracted position in this state, the rotating end of the lock arm 17 collides with the lock pin 22 (arrow J in Fig. 6).
(Illustrated) The lock arm 17 may be damaged.

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was made by paying attention to the above-mentioned circumstances. With the step plate in the protruding position, the lock arm is erroneously operated to make this the first rotational position. It is an object of the present invention to prevent the above-mentioned lock arm from colliding with a locked part and being damaged when the step plate is rotated from a protruding position to a retracted position.

(Structure of the device) The feature of this device to achieve the above object is that, with the step plate in the protruding position, the lock arm is set in the first rotation position and the step plate is rotated to the retracted position. At this time, the lock arm is provided with a guide surface that slides into contact with the locked member and rotates the lock arm to the second rotational position.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of this invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as the conventional configuration. Therefore, the common configurations will simply be designated by their reference numerals in the drawings and their explanations will be omitted, and only the different configurations will be explained.

In the figure, an interlocking spring 13 is provided that biases the step plate 8 in the direction of protruding. Further, a notch 30 is formed in the lock arm 17, and a regulating pin 24 is disposed within this notch 30, and is supported by the step plate 8. The lock arm 17 also includes an arm body 19 and an arm body 19.
The arm main body 19 is integrally molded with an operating section 20 for rotating the arm main body 19.

On the other hand, a spring 31 is installed between the step plate 8 and the lock arm 17. This spring 31 is directed in a direction in which the lock arm 17 is placed in either the first rotational posture shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 or the second rotational posture shown by the solid line in FIG. energize it to rotate.

On the other hand, a guide surface 3 is provided at the rotating end of the lock arm 17.
2 is formed. This guide surface 32 is connected to the lock arm 17 when the step plate 8 is in the protruding position.
is the first rotational position, and from this state the step plate 8
When the lock arm 17 is rotated to the retracted position, the lock arm 17 is rotated in the direction of the second rotation position while slidingly contacting the lock pin 22 (as shown by arrow K in FIG. 1).

When the lock arm 17 is pushed by the lock pin 22 and moves beyond the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
7 is biased by the spring 31 and automatically rotates to the second rotational position (indicated by arrow L in FIG. 1). 3 and 4 show other embodiments.

According to this, the lock arm 17 is pivotally supported on the bracket 10 on the side of the vehicle body 1 by the pivot shaft 18,
A lock pin 22, which is a member to be locked, is provided to protrude from the step plate 8.

Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the previous embodiment.

(Effect of the invention) According to this invention, when the step plate is in the protruding position and the lock arm is in the first rotational position and the step plate is rotated to the retracted position, the locking member slides into contact with the locked member. Since the lock arm is provided with a guide surface that allows the lock arm to rotate to the second rotation position, when the step plate is in the protruding position, the lock arm may be rotated to the first rotation position by erroneous operation. Even when the step plate is rotated from the position to the retracted position, the locked member and the guide surface are in sliding contact with each other and the guide surface is pushed to automatically move the lock arm to the second rotation position. It will be rotated in the direction. Therefore, the lock arm and the locked member do not collide unexpectedly, and damage to the lock arm can therefore be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of this invention,
Figure 1 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 2, Figure 2 is an overall plan view of the automobile step, Figures 3 and 4.
The figures show other embodiments, FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 3, FIGS. The figure is a perspective view of the lower part of the side door, and FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Vehicle body, 1a...Vehicle body outer surface, 4...Door opening, 8...Step plate, 16...Lock device,
17... Lock arm, 22... Lock pin (locked member), 32... Guide surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A step plate is rotatably supported below a door opening formed on the side of the vehicle body, and as the step plate rotates, the step plate protrudes outward from the outer side of the vehicle body and retracts from the outer side of the vehicle body. A lock arm is rotatably supported on either the vehicle body side or the step plate side, and a locked member is provided on the other side, and the step plate is placed in the retracted position. When the lock arm rotates, the lock arm engages with the locked member and locks the step plate in that position, and the lock arm separates from the locked member to release the lock. In a step for an automobile that allows selection of one of two rotational positions, the step plate is rotated to a retracted position with the lock arm in the first rotational position while the step plate is in the protruding position. A locking device for a step for an automobile, characterized in that a guide surface is formed on the lock arm for slidingly contacting the locked member and rotating the lock arm to a second rotational position.