Vehicle and vehicle step apparatus with multiple drive motors

A motorized vehicle step apparatus, comprising:

• a first extending and retracting device comprising a first mounting bracket attachable to a chassis of a vehicle, a first step bracket, and a first arm assembly coupled to the first mounting bracket and the first step bracket and configured to drive the first step bracket to move between a first extended position and a first retracted position;
• a second extending and retracting device comprising a second mounting bracket attachable to the chassis of the vehicle, a second step bracket, and a second arm assembly coupled to the second mounting bracket and the second step bracket and configured to drive the second step bracket to move between a second extended position and a second retracted position, wherein the second extended position is aligned with the first extended position, and wherein the second retracted position is aligned with the first retracted position;
• a step coupled to the first step bracket and the second step bracket;
• a first motor assembly coupled to the first arm assembly and operable to (i) drive the first arm assembly to move the first step bracket between the first extended position and the first retracted position and (ii) retain the first step bracket in the retracted position by a reverse self-locking effect of the first motor assembly, the first motor assembly including a first motor having a first worm on a first rotatable shaft of the first motor, and a first worm gear operably coupled to the first worm, wherein rotation of the first rotatable shaft during an operation of the first motor causes rotation of the first worm gear in one rotational direction that causes the first motor assembly to drive the first step bracket, and wherein after the operation of the first motor the first rotatable shaft is prevented from rotation in the other rotational direction based at least on the first worm and worm gear to create the reverse self-locking effect;
• a second motor assembly coupled to the second arm assembly and operable to (i) drive the second arm assembly to move the second step bracket between the second extended position and the second retracted position and (ii) retain the second step bracket in the retracted position by a reverse self-locking effect of the second motor assembly, the second motor assembly including a second motor having a second worm on a second rotatable shaft of the second motor, and a second worm gear operably coupled to the second worm, wherein rotation of the second rotatable shaft during an operation of the second motor causes rotation of the second worm gear in one rotational direction that causes the second motor assembly to drive the second step bracket, and wherein after the operation of the second motor the second rotatable shaft is prevented from rotation in the other rotational direction based at least on the second worm and worm gear to create the reverse self-locking effect,
• wherein the first motor assembly and the second motor assembly are configured to drive the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly, respectively, in unison and with synchronized motion as the step extends and retracts,
• wherein the first motor includes a permanent magnet direct current motor coupled with the first arm assembly to drive the first arm assembly, and wherein the second motor includes a second permanent magnet direct current motor coupled with the second arm assembly to drive the second arm assembly,
• a first elastic member configured to elastically deform so as to store energy when the first permanent magnet direct current motor drives the first step bracket to move towards the first extended position, and to release energy so as to assist the first permanent magnet direct current motor to drive the first extending and retracting device when the first permanent magnet direct current motor drives the first step bracket to move towards the first retracted position;
• and
• a second elastic member configured to elastically deform so as to store energy when the second permanent magnet direct current motor drives the second step bracket to move towards the second extended position, and to release energy so as to assist the second permanent magnet direct current motor to drive the second extending and retracting device when the second permanent magnet direct current motor drives the second step bracket to move towards the second retracted position.