Active torsional buckling and lateral shear mechanism for running board brackets
A bracket adapted to attach a running board to a rocker of a vehicle includes a body having a plurality of running board deflection-inducing portions. The body may include a torsional buckling-inducing portion comprising a rocker mounting portion defining an included angle to a vehicle y-axis and to a vehicle x-axis when mounted to the rocker. The body may further include a rotational moment-inducing portion comprising a stepped segment interposed between the rocker mounting portion and a running board-carrying portion. The rotational moment-inducing portion may further include a rocker mounting tab disposed adjacent to the stepped segment and a flange disposed at an interface of the stepped segment and the running board-carrying portion.
1. A bracket adapted to attach a running board to a vehicle rocker, comprising a body having a plurality of running board deflection-inducing portions, the plurality including at least a torsional buckling-inducing portion comprising a rocker mounting portion defining an included angle to a vehicle y-axis and to a vehicle x-axis when mounted to the rocker.
2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a rotational moment-inducing portion comprising a stepped segment interposed between the rocker mounting portion and a running board-carrying portion.
3. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the rotational moment-inducing portion further includes a rocker mounting tab disposed adjacent to the stepped segment.
4. The bracket of claim 3 , wherein the rotational moment-inducing portion further includes a flange disposed at an interface of the stepped segment and the running board-carrying portion.
5. A running board assembly comprising the bracket of claim 1 .
6. A vehicle comprising the running board assembly of claim 5 .
7. A running board assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one bracket adapted to attach to a vehicle rocker, comprising a bracket body having a plurality of running board deflection-inducing portions including at least a torsional buckling-inducing portion comprising a rocker mounting portion defining an included angle to a vehicle y-axis and to a vehicle x-axis when mounted to the rocker; and
a running board mounted to the vehicle by the at least one bracket.
8. The running board assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bracket body further includes a rotational moment-inducing portion comprising a stepped segment interposed between the rocker mounting portion and a running board-carrying portion.
9. The running board assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rotational moment-inducing portion further includes a rocker mounting tab disposed adjacent to the stepped segment.
10. The running board assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rotational moment-inducing portion further includes a flange disposed at an interface of the stepped segment and the running board-carrying portion.
11. A vehicle comprising the running board assembly of claim 7 .
12. A method for attaching a running board to a rocker of a vehicle, comprising attaching a running board to the rocker by a mounting bracket having a plurality of running board deflection-inducing portions including at least a torsional buckling-inducing portion comprising a rocker mounting portion defining an included angle to a vehicle y-axis and to a vehicle x-axis when mounted to the rocker.
13. The method of claim 12 , including providing the bracket body further having a rotational moment-inducing portion comprising a stepped segment interposed between the rocker mounting portion and a running board-carrying portion.
14. The method of claim 13 , further including disposing a rocker mounting tab adjacent to the stepped segment.
15. The method of claim 13 , further including weakening a segment of the bracket body by disposing a flange at an interface of the stepped segment and the running board-carrying portion.