Ladder assemblies for vehicles
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorsSam Kaddouh, James Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ladder assembly is disclosed that is configured for use with a vehicle. The ladder assembly includes a case and a ladder defining a longitudinal axis. The case include at least one engagement member that is configured for releasable engagement with the vehicle such that the ladder assembly is removably connectable thereto. The ladder is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and is pivotably connected to the case to allow for adjustment in an angular orientation of the ladder. In certain embodiments, the ladder assembly may further include one or more locking mechanisms that are configured to fix the angular orientation and/or the vertical position of the ladder.
Claims20
A ladder assembly configured for use with a vehicle, the ladder assembly comprising:
- a case defining an internal cavity and including:
- a housing including sidewalls;
- at least one engagement member extending from the housing and configured for releasable engagement with the vehicle such that the ladder assembly is removably connectable thereto;
- and
- a cover connected to the housing such that the case is reconfigurable between a closed configuration, in which the cover conceals the internal cavity, and an open configuration, in which the internal cavity is exposed;
- and
- a ladder defining a longitudinal axis and being reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein an uppermost segment of the ladder is directly and pivotably connected to the sidewalls by pivot members extending through the ladder and into the sidewalls such that the ladder is pivotable about a fixed pivot axis to facilitate adjustment in an angular orientation of the ladder.
A ladder assembly configured for use with a vehicle, the ladder assembly comprising:
- a case configured for releasable engagement with the vehicle and defining an internal cavity, wherein the case is reconfigurable between a closed configuration, in which the internal cavity is concealed, and an open configuration, in which the internal cavity is exposed;
- a locking mechanism supported by the case, wherein the locking mechanism is slidable along a first axis and rotatable about a second axis extending in generally parallel relation to the first axis;
- and
- a ladder defining a longitudinal axis and a locking groove configured to receive the locking mechanism, the ladder being telescopically reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
A ladder assembly configured for use with a vehicle, the ladder assembly comprising:
- a case defining an internal cavity, wherein the case includes:
- a housing;
- and
- a cover connected to the housing such that the case is reconfigurable between a closed configuration, in which the cover conceals the internal cavity, and an open configuration, in which the internal cavity is exposed;
- a ladder pivotably connected to the case about a fixed pivot axis;
- and
- a locking mechanism repositionable between a locked configuration, in which the locking mechanism extends through the ladder and into the case to thereby fix an angular orientation of the ladder, and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking mechanism is separated from the case to allow for adjustment of the angular orientation of the ladder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.