Stowable step

An apparatus comprising a stowable step, said stowable step comprising

• a mounting plate,
• a platform for supporting a load when said platform is in a deployed position in which said platform is perpendicular to said mounting plate,
• a folding assembly that enables said platform to transition between said deployed position and a stowed position in which said platform is parallel to said mounting plate, and
• a pedal assembly that enables a transition between said deployed position and said stowed position to be completed by a person's foot,
• wherein pressing said pedal assembly, while said stowable step is in said deployed position, causes said folding assembly to transition out of said deployed position,
• wherein pressing said pedal assembly, while said stowable step is in said stowed position, causes said folding assembly to transition out of said stowed position, and, wherein said pedal assembly comprises a pedal lever having a pedal at a distal end thereof, wherein a proximal end of said pedal lever is mounted to said mounting plate to permit said pedal lever to pivot in response to being pressed by said person's foot.

A method comprising operating a stowable step that has a stowed position, in which said step is parallel to a mounting plate, and a deployed position, in which said step is perpendicular to a mounting rail, wherein operating said stowable step comprises using a foot to

• press on a pedal assembly to cause said step to transition out of said deployed position,
• complete said transition out of said deployed position into said stowed position,
• press on said pedal assembly to cause said step to transition out of said stowed position,
• complete said transition out of said stowed position into said deployed position, and
• wherein causing said step to transition out of said deployed position comprises causing said step to transition into an equilibrium position that is in between said deployed position and said stowed position and wherein completing said transition into said stowed position comprises causing a transition from said equilibrium position to said stowed position.