Abstract: All designs have features that prevent the running boards from over deploying and stowing. This ensures the mechanism does not exceed the design range of motion and prevents any excess forces on the system or vehicle. All designs use kinematic locks to prevent back driving in stowed and deployed positions, which allows more efficient gearboxes to be used.

Abstract: A movable link arrangement for an active exterior component on a vehicle. The movable link arrangement has several links that are connected together and rotate about a composite bushing. The composite bushing has a body with an aperture formed there through. The body is formed of a continuous fiber and resin material that circumscribes an inner layer of friction reducing material that forms a bore through the body of the composite bushing. A rotatable pin is positioned through that aperture of the body and extends through the bore so that the rotatable pin is in contact with the inner layer. The composite bushing with the friction reducing material provides reduced noise and eliminates unwanted corrosion that occurs when other bushing materials are used.

Abstract: A movable link arrangement for an active exterior component on a vehicle. The movable link arrangement has several links that are connected together and rotate about a composite bushing. The composite bushing has a body with an aperture formed there through. The body is formed of a continuous fiber and resin material that circumscribes an inner layer of friction reducing material that forms a bore through the body of the composite bushing. A rotatable pin is positioned through that aperture of the body and extends through the bore so that the rotatable pin is in contact with the inner layer. The composite bushing with the friction reducing material provides reduced noise and eliminates unwanted corrosion that occurs when other bushing materials are used.