Retractable step and side bar assembly for raised vehicle
AssigneeLund Motion Products, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Nicholas Smith, Eric Charles Bajza, William Franklin Bibb, VI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable step and side bar assembly that can be used for raised vehicles, such as trucks. The retractable step can be configured to provide for significant reach in a deployed position to allow for a user to enter the raised vehicle. Further, in the stowed position the retractable step can be located within the side bar, thereby providing a low profile as well as an enhanced aesthetic appearance.
Claims19
A combination side bar and vehicle step assembly adaptable for use with different vehicles, the assembly comprising:
- a mounting bracket comprising:
- a vehicle attachment portion comprising an aperture for insertion therethrough of a fastener to couple the vehicle attachment portion to an underbody of a vehicle,
- wherein the aperture comprises an elongate slot shaped such that the fastener can be inserted through the aperture at different heights with respect to the vehicle attachment portion;
- and
- a side bar attachment portion;
- a side bar extending along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to a direction along which the elongate slot extends,
- wherein the side bar comprises an opening extending along the longitudinal direction, the opening shaped to receive another fastener that can (1) slide within the opening along the longitudinal direction to adjust a longitudinal position of the side bar with respect to the side bar attachment portion of the mounting bracket, and (2) be tightened within the longitudinal opening to stop longitudinal motion of the side bar with respect to the side bar attachment portion of the mounting bracket;
- and
- an extendable vehicle step comprising a stepping platform connected to at least one arm, the at least one arm configured to rotate about an axis extending along the longitudinal direction in order to move the stepping platform between an extended position and a stowed position,
- wherein in the stowed position the stepping platform is positioned inboard of an outboard edge of the side bar.
A method of producing a combination side bar and vehicle step assembly, the method comprising:
- providing an extendable vehicle step that comprises a frame, a pair of arms pivotably coupled to the frame, and a stepping platform pivotably coupled to the pair of arms such that the stepping platform can move between a stowed position and an extended position;
- providing a mounting bracket;
- providing a flat sheet of metal;
- forming the flat sheet of metal into a side bar that comprises:
- an opening extending along a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a channel extending along the longitudinal direction;
- providing a first fastener configured to be inserted into the opening of the side bar to attach the side bar to the mounting bracket;
- and
- providing a second fastener configured to attach the frame of the extendable vehicle step to the mounting bracket in a position that will at least partially enclose the stepping platform in the channel of the side bar when the stepping platform is in the stowed position.
A method of producing a combination side bar and vehicle step assembly, the method comprising:
- providing an extendable vehicle step that comprises a frame, a pair of arms pivotably coupled to the frame, and a stepping platform pivotably coupled to the pair of arms such that the stepping platform can move between a stowed position and an extended position;
- providing a mounting bracket;
- extruding metal into a shape that forms a side bar that comprises:
- an opening extending along a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a channel extending along the longitudinal direction;
- providing a first fastener configured to be inserted into the opening of the side bar to attach the side bar to the mounting bracket;
- and
- providing a second fastener configured to attach the frame of the extendable vehicle step to the mounting bracket in a position that will at least partially enclose the stepping platform in the channel of the side bar when the stepping platform is in the stowed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.