Freightliner Corporation

Charles H Blakewood, Jr

Michael Von Mayenburg

Luis A Novoa

Mark S Hurayt

Michael K Smith

William G Massey, Iii

Nasser Zamani

Paul M Menig

David J Johnston

Paul J Delurey

Ferdinand F Hellhake

Glenn Crocker

Joachim Paschke

Byron J Bocian

Duncan Good

Ducan Good

Louis A Novoa

A stairway assembly is pivoted between deployed and stowed positions. The stairway in one form includes a sliding support from which the stairway is suspended at a location spaced from a stairway pivot. A link, which may be adjustable in length, couples the coupler to the stairway. A snubber is provided to limit vibration of the stairway when stowed. An actuator, which may comprise an electric motor, is positioned above and overlies a portion of a platform of the stairway. Extension and retraction of the actuator pivots the stairway between stowed and deployed positions.

Retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle

A retractable stairway assembly for entering and exiting a vehicle with a cab has a stairway with steps. The stairway assembly is movable between a retracted position, in which the stairway is beneath the cab, and an extended position, in which the stairway is exposed to allow entering and exiting of the vehicle. The stairway assembly also has a panel that substantially hides the stairway when in the retracted position. An actuator moves the stairway assembly between the retracted and extended positions in response to closing and opening the door.

Retractable stairway for entering and exiting a vehicle

A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle includes monitoring at least one vehicle status condition such as (a) whether the vehicle is stopped, (b) whether the parking brake is set, (c) whether the cab is tilted in excess of a threshold, and (d) whether excess current is being required by a motor used to shift the stairway between stowed and deployed positions in the event an electric motor is used for this purpose. In the event any of these monitored conditions are not in a predetermined state, deployment of the stairway from a stowed position is blocked. Deployment and stowing of the stairway may also be interrupted depending upon vehicle status and other conditions. Interior and exterior vehicle alarms may be activated depending on vehicle status conditions and the mode of operation of the stairway.

Method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly

A vehicle such as a truck with a sleeping compartment includes a bed positioned within the sleeping compartment and most preferably at an upper berth position. A bed shifter is provided for shifting the bed between bed sleeping and bed storage positions. More specifically, the upper bed sleeping surface of the bed is raised toward the ceiling of the vehicle when the bed is shifted between the sleeping and storage positions, with the side portions of the bed similarly being raised as this shifting occurs. The bed shifter may be designed to tilt the bed as shifting occurs so that, when in the bed storage position, the upper bed surface more closely follows the contour of a vehicle with a downwardly sloped or otherwise configured ceiling. Bed shifting elements of variable length may be provided to shift the bed by varying the length of these elements. In one form, the elements comprise elongated straps which are wound and unwound from a rotatable shaft to raise and lower the bed between bed sleeping and bed storage positions. Guide tracks may be provided to guide the motion of the bed as it is shifted between such positions. Manual as well as motor powered bed shifting systems may be used.

Vehicle with bed raising and lowering system

A structural inner-door panel for a door of a vehicle, such as a truck, has a body which is preferably monolithic and molded as a single piece of polymeric material. The body has a front side which faces towards the inside of the vehicle, and a back side opposite the front side. The body substantially spans the width of a truck door frame, and substantially spans the distance from the bottom of the door frame to the window opening. The body panel serves as a portion of the interior decor of the door without the need for additional structural support members other than the exterior metal panel of the door. The body front side is configured to have trim pieces and accessories attached thereto. The body may include an integral armrest, storage compartment, and a radio speaker well. The back side has a plurality of baffles projecting outwardly therefrom to provide strength and rigidity to the panel.

Inner-door panel for a vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Charles H Blakewood, Jr