Vehicle step device
A vehicle step device is provided at a vehicle body. The vehicle step device includes an arm attached to the vehicle body or a base fixed to the vehicle body, a step attached to the arm, and a drive unit configured in such a way as to drive the arm. The drive unit includes an expansion-contraction unit. The expansion-contraction unit includes a body portion and a movement portion configured in such a way as to move relative to the body portion. In a state where the vehicle step device is attached to the vehicle body, the movement portion is connected to the arm in such a way that the expansion-contraction unit expands and contracts in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
1 . A vehicle step device to be provided at a vehicle body, the vehicle step device comprising:
an arm attached to the vehicle body or a base fixed to the vehicle body;
a step attached to the arm; and
a drive unit configured in such a way as to drive the arm, wherein
the drive unit includes an expansion-contraction unit,
the expansion-contraction unit includes a body portion and a movement portion configured in such a way as to move relative to the body portion, and,
in a state where the vehicle step device is attached to the vehicle body, the movement portion is connected to the arm in such a way that the expansion-contraction unit expands and contracts in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body;
wherein the arm is rotatably supported by the vehicle body or the base via a shaft member, one of the body portion and the movement portion in the drive unit is coupled to the arm by a first coupling portion, another of the body portion and the movement portion in the drive unit is coupled to the base by a second coupling portion, and, in a state where the step is arranged at a retracted position, when the vehicle step device is viewed from a front side or a rear side, at least a part of a coupling portion coupling the drive unit and the arm to each other overlaps with the shaft member; and
wherein a first rotational center of the first coupling portion is located at a same position as a rotational axis of a base portion of the arm in a width direction, or is located on an inner side of the rotational axis of the base portion of the arm in the width direction, and a second rotational center of the second coupling portion is located on an outer side of the first rotational center of the first coupling portion in the width direction, or a first rotational center of the first coupling portion is located at a same position as a rotational axis of a base portion of the arm in a width direction, or is located on an outer side of the rotational axis of the base portion of the arm in the width direction, and a second rotational center of the second coupling portion is located on an inner side of the first rotational center of the first coupling portion in the width direction.
2 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
the body portion includes: a spindle configured in such a way as to be rotated by a motor; a nut engaging with the spindle; and an outer cylinder configured in such a way as to guide the nut,
the nut is configured in such a way as to move along the spindle by rotation of the spindle, and
the movement portion is configured in such a way as to move together with the nut.
3 . The vehicle step device according to claim 2 , wherein
the spindle of the expansion-contraction unit is arranged in such a way as to be along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, in an attached state where the vehicle step device is attached to the vehicle body or the base.
4 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
the body portion of the expansion-contraction unit is detachably attached to the vehicle body or the base by a screw.
5 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
the body portion of the expansion-contraction unit is rotatably attached to the vehicle body or the base.
6 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
the arm includes: a base portion supported by the vehicle body or the base; an arm portion extending from the base portion toward the step; and an extension portion extending in a direction opposite to the arm portion at the base portion, and
a distal end portion of the movement portion of the expansion-contraction unit is rotatably attached to the extension portion.
7 . The vehicle step device according to claim 5 , wherein
the arm includes: a base portion supported by the vehicle body or the base; an arm portion extending from the base portion toward the step; and an extension portion extending in a direction opposite to the arm portion at the base portion, and
a distal end portion of the movement portion of the expansion-contraction unit is rotatably attached to the extension portion.
8 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a reception member receiving the expansion-contraction unit, wherein
the reception member is arranged under the expansion-contraction unit in an attached state where the vehicle step device is attached to the vehicle body or the base.
9 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
the body portion of the expansion-contraction unit is connected directly or indirectly to the vehicle body, and the movement portion of the expansion-contraction unit is connected to the arm.
10 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second arm in addition to a first arm as the arm, wherein
the step is supported by the first arm and the second arm, and,
in a state where the step is arranged at a retracted position,
the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are arranged between a rotational axis of a part where the first arm and the step are coupled to each other and a rotational axis of a base portion of the second arm.
11 . The vehicle step device according to claim 1 , wherein
one of the body portion and the movement portion in the drive unit is coupled to the arm by the first coupling portion,
another of the body portion and the movement portion in the drive unit is coupled to the base by the second coupling portion, and,
in the state where the step is arranged at the retracted position,
the first rotational center of the first coupling portion is arranged, in the width direction, on a first side of a line passing through a rotational axis of the arm and extending in the front-rear direction, and the second rotational center of the second coupling portion is arranged, in the width direction, on a second side of the line.
12 . The vehicle step device according to claim 11 , wherein, in the state where the step is arranged at the retracted position, when viewed from the front side or the rear side, at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion overlaps with the rotational axis of a base portion of the arm.