Support devices for a vehicle and related methods

Abstract

A support device having an elongated support member for providing protection to an underside of a vehicle. The vehicle can have one or more pinch welds, such as a vehicle with a unibody chassis. The support device can serve as a rock rail to distribute a point load from an external object, such as a rock or a boulder, to a larger area of the vehicle to minimize high loading forces to a single point. The support device can alternatively be a running board. Brackets can be included for traditional installation or for a blind installation, when using a frame locking bolt with alignment features.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support device for a vehicle comprising:
 a support member defined by a plurality of walls including a support wall, the support member being elongated and including:   a pinch weld channel having a support surface and at least one extended side wall extending from the support surface;   a side channel spaced from the pinch weld channel;   wherein the pinch weld channel is located above, elevation-wise, the support wall and the support wall extends from the support surface at an angle to the support wall; and   wherein the side channel has a recessed groove for receiving a gap filler.   
     
     
         2 . The support device of  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises an I-beam cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         3 . The support device of  claim 1 , further a bracket welded to or secured to the support member, the bracket having a mounting flange for mounting the support member to an underside of a vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The support device of  claim 2 , further comprising two or more brackets welded to the elongated support member or fastened to the elongated support member. 
     
     
         5 . The support device of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-metallic gap filler located in the pinch weld channel. 
     
     
         6 . The support device of  claim 5 , further comprising a non-metallic side gap filler having a head portion and a stem portion, and wherein said stem portion is located in the recessed groove of the side channel. 
     
     
         7 . The support device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rib wall located internally of a body defined by the plurality of walls, said rib wall attached to one of the plurality of walls of the support member. 
     
     
         8 . A support device for a vehicle, said support device comprising:
 an extruded metallic support member having a body with a length and a top wall having a top wall with a top surface, a top wall first end, and a top wall second end;   a rigid extension extending above the top wall top surface at the top wall first end;   a side channel having a recessed groove located at the top wall second end and spaced from the rigid extension;   a load bearing structure located directly below, elevation-wise, the rigid extension having a surface for transferring a point load on the surface to the rigid extension;   wherein the rigid extension has a terminal end that is located above, elevation-wise, the side channel when the support device is mounted to a side of a vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The support device of  claim 8 , wherein the load bearing structure comprises an I-beam cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         10 . The support device of  claim 8 , wherein a sloped sidewall is located below, elevation-wise, the side channel. 
     
     
         11 . The support device of  claim 9 , further comprising a bracket coupled to or welded to the support member, said bracket having a flange for attaching the support member to a vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The support device of  claim 10 , further comprising a step extending laterally from the elongated support member. 
     
     
         13 . The support device of  claim 8 , further comprising an edge guard located at the terminal end of the rigid extension. 
     
     
         14 . A support device for a vehicle comprising:
 an elongated support member having two ends and a sidewall;   a bracket fastened to or welded to the sidewall of the support member;   a threaded shank of a bolt projecting through an opening of the bracket;   a bolt head welded to a bolt head flange and the threaded shank extending from the bolt head;   a spacer located between the bolt head and the bracket, and   a pin extending from the spacer and through the bolt head flange, said pin being spaced from said threaded shank.   
     
     
         15 . The support device of  claim 14 , wherein the pin is press fitted to a bore in the spacer and extends through an opening in the bolt head flange. 
     
     
         16 . The support device of  claim 14 , wherein the spacer has a body with a first body portion having a first diameter and a second body portion with a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The support device of  claim 14 , further comprising an adapter bracket having a first mounting section located between the spacer and the bolt head flange. 
     
     
         18 . The support device of  claim 17 , wherein the adapter bracket has a slot formed at the first mounting section. 
     
     
         19 . The support device of  claim 18 , where the first mounting section has a top surface and wherein a bead is located at the top surface adjacent the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The support device of  claim 19 , wherein the adapter flange further comprises a second mounting section spaced from the first mounting section by an intermediate section.