Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ASSEMBLY AID FOR RUNNING BOARDS
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to an assembly aid for a running board. More
particularly, the invention relates to an assembly aid for allowing a single
technician
to install a running board on a motor vehicle.
Description of Related Art
[0002] In pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and other motor vehicles
having
a relatively high ground clearance, running boards are commonly utilized as a
step to
assist individuals in entering and exiting the vehicle. Running boards are
subjected to
significant loads from a variety of sources. Initially, running boards were
fabricated
from metal in order to withstand these loads. More recently, ru.nning boards
have
been formed from plastic. Plastic rurning boards provide several advantages
over
metal running boards including, but not limited to, reduced running board
weight,
simplified fabrication, corrosion resistance, skid resistance, molded in
color, and
molded in steps. Each of these advantageous features has a cost reduction
component
associated with it.
[0003] The reduction in weight that results from the use of plastic running
boards significantly simplifies post-fabrication handling as well as running
board
attachment to the motor vehicle. Metal running boards are heavy, which
increases the
time involved handling the running board. In addition, more than one
technician
and/or mechanical assistance is required for installation of the metal running
board.
By contrast, a single technician can quickly and easily move and position a
plastic
running board. But due to the way running boards are secured to the motor
vehicle,
more than one technician and/or mechanical assistance is still required to
install the
plastic running board.
[0004] Thus, it would be desirable to provide an assembly aid that will permit
additional cost savings by allowing a single technician to handle a plastic
running
board and install the plastic running board on a motor vehicle.
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Summary of the Invention
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, an assembly aid is provided
for assisting in installation of a running board, having at least one mounting
bore,
along a vehicle mounting bolt. The assembly aid includes a bolt clip fixedly
secured
to the running board. The bolt clip defines a bore coaxially aligned with the
mounting
bore of the running board to receive the vehicle mounting bolt therethrough
and
configured to engage the vehicle mounting bolt.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, an assembly aid is
provided for assisting in installation about a vehicle mounting bolt. The
assembly aid
includes a running board having a mounting bore for receiving the mounting
bolt
therethrough. The running board includes an integrated bolt clip having a bore
coaxially aligned with the mounting bore to receive the vehicle mounting bolt
and
configured to engage the vehicle mounting bolt.
[0007] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided
for securing a running board, having a mounting bore, along a vehicle mounting
bolt
utilizing an assembly aid including a bolt clip having a bore. The method
includes the
steps of securing the bolt clip to the rulining board such that the bore and
mounting
bore are coaxially aligned; positioning the running board to receive the
vehicle
mounting bolt inside the bore and mounting bore; and applying pressure to the
running board until the vehicle mounting bolt passes through the mounting bore
into
engagement with the bolt clip.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008] Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description
when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an assembly aid
according to one embodiment of the invention secured to a running board;
[0010] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bolt clip of the assembly aid;
[0011] Figure 3 is a top view of the bolt clip;
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[0012] Figure 4 is a side view of the bolt clip;
[0013] Figure 5 is a longitudinal, side view of the bolt clip;
[0014] Figure 6 is a bottom view of the bolt clip secured to the running
board;
[0015] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in Figure 6;
[0016] Figure 8 is a top view of the bolt clip secured to the nximing board;
[0017] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the running board and assembly
aid held in position disposed along a mounting bolt extending out from a
portion of a
motor vehicle;
[0018] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 9 further
including
a mounting nut positioned on the mounting bolt to fix the running board in
place;
[0019] Figure 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a running board
including an assembly aid according to a second embodiment of the invention
integrally formed therewith;
[0020] Figure 12 is a top view of a bolt clip of the assembly aid integrally
formed with the running board;
[0021] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an assembly aid according to a third
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] Figure 14 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a bolt clip, including
a
slip fastener, of the assembly aid secured to a running board; and
[0023] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting bolt extending
through the assembly aid.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0024] Referring to Figures 1 through 5, an assembly aid, generally indicated
at 10, is provided for assisting in installment of a running board 12 along a
portion 14
of a motor vehicle (shown in Figure 9). In the embodiments set forth herein,
the
portion of the motor vehicle shown is a motor vehicle frame 14. The assembly
aid 10
includes a bolt clip 16 having a bore 18 and ferrules 20 disposed around the
bore 18.
The bolt clip 16 also includes a plurality of prongs 22. Although four prongs
22 are
shown in the current embodiment, it is contemplated that the exact number of
prongs
22 may vary. In a preferred embodiment, the bolt clip 16 is formed from metal.
It is,
however, appreciated, that the bolt clip 16 may be formed from any of numerous
materials, including plastic.
[0025] Each of the plurality of prongs 22 is configured to penetrate the
running board 12. Thus, the bolt clip 16 is "stapled" into the running board
12
coaxially such that the bolt clip 16 is positioned over a mounting bore 24
formed in
the running board 12. Although only one mounting bore 24 is shown, it is
appreciated
that the running board 12 has a plurality of spaced apart mounting bores 24.
When
the bolt clip 16 is positioned over the running board 12, the bore 18 of the
bolt clip 16
is aligned with one of the mounting bores 24 of the running board 12.
[0026] Referring to Figures 6 through 10, each mounting bore 24 is
configured to receive a mounting bolt 26 therethrough. Each mounting bolt 26,
which
extends out from the motor vehicle frame 14, also extends through the bore 18
of the
bolt clip 16, where it is engaged by the ferrules 20 along an inner edge 27 of
the bore
18. The engagement between the mounting bolt 26 and the ferrules 20 holds the
running board 12 in place along the motor vehicle frame 14.
[0027] A mounting nut 28, shown in Figure 10, is tightened on the mounting
bolt 26 to fix the running board 12 to the motor vehicle frame 14. When the
running
board 12 is fixed as such, the mounting bolt 26, the mounting bore 24 of the
running
board 12, and the bore 18 of the bolt clip 16 are coaxially aligned.
[0028] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, according to another embodiment of
the invention, the assembly aid 10 includes a bolt clip 30 integrated with the
running
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board 12. The integrated bolt clip 30 includes the bore 18 and the ferrules 20
for
engaging the mounting bolt 26. The integrated bolt clip 30 may be molded in
place
within the running board 12. More specifically, the bolt clip 30 may be
fabricated
simultaneously with the running board 12, or fabricated separately from the
running
board 12 and integrated therewith at a later time.
[0029] The integrated bolt clip 30 is formed from metal or plastic. If the
integrated bolt clip 30 is formed from plastic, the plastic may be the same as
or
different from the plastic used to assemble the running board 12.
[0030] Referring to Figures 13 through 15, according to still another
embodiment of the invention, the assembly aid 10 includes a bolt clip 32 held
in place
along the running board 12 by a slip fastener 34. As in the previous
embodiments, the
mounting bolt 26 is received within the bore 18 of the bolt clip 32 and the
mounting
bore 24 of the running board 12. The bolt clip 32 includes the ferrules 20 for
engaging the mounting bolt 26.
[0031] In a method of fixing the running board 12 to a portion 14 of the motor
vehicle, the bolt clip 16, 30, 32 of the assembly aid 10 is first secured to
the rusuling
board 12 such that the bore 18 of the bolt clip 16, 30, 32 is positioned
coaxially over
one of the mounting bores 24 of the running board 12. The bolt clip 16, 30, 32
may
be secured to the running board 12 by stapling, integrating, or fixing. The
running
board 12 is then positioned such that each mounting bore 24 receives one of
the
mounting bolts 26 extending out from the portion 14 of the motor vehicle. A
predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the positioned running board 12
so
that each mounting bolt 26 passes through the respective mounting bore 24 and
into
engagement with the ferrules 20 of the bolt clip 16, 30, 32. As a result, the
running
board 12 is held along the portion 14 of the motor vehicle. The tightening nut
28
threadedly engages the mounting bolt 26 to fixedly secure the running board 12
to the
portion 14 of the motor vehicle.
[0032] One skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments of
the assembly aid 10 may additionally be fastened to the running board 12 using
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additional adhesive and/or fasteners. Any such configuration or mounting
method
utilizing the assembly aid 10 is, thus, witliin the scope of the invention.
[0033] Furthermore, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the assembly
aid
may be utilized on all types of running boards, steps, step bars, and power
running
boards for all types of motor vehicles having such a running board or step. In
addition, other assembly aids may be utilized including hooks, clips, buttons,
and
other fasteners, so long as the assembly aid allows a technician to handle and
mount
the running board 12 onto the mounting bolts 26 for fixed attachment to the
portion
14 of the motor vehicle.
[0034] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be
understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the
nature
of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and
variations
of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore,
within the
scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as
specifically described.
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