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.