The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 2025
Filed:
Sep. 01, 2022
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Stuart R. Wuerthele, Saline, MI (US);
Frank A. Richards, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Alexander L. Paradis, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US);
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSRIKI KAISHA, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
Systems and methods of indirectly illuminating a step surface of a vehicle running board are provided. A running board may include an upper step surface and at least one lighting element provided at an inboard underside of the running board to directly illuminate the undercarriage of the vehicle and a ground surface below the running board. The lighting element may be configured to direct light to a reflecting element provided at the undercarriage for reflecting light provided by the at least one lighting element to indirectly illuminate the upper step surface of the running board. Associated vehicles including the running board are provided. Associated methods are also provided.