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US 2019/0193639 A1Published application
Horizontal retractable vehicle step
AssigneeLund Motion Products, Inc.
InventorAnthony Nicholas Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A horizontally moving retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle, such as a low to the ground vehicle like a van. The horizontal vehicle step can provide access to different portions of the vehicle. Further, the horizontal vehicle step can act as a safety mechanism to reduce potential harm to a user in accidentally stepping in gaps between the vehicle and a curb.
Claims21
(canceled)
An extendable step configured for horizontal motion, the extendable step comprising:
- a first arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first arm is configured to be rotatably coupled to a vehicle at a first horizontal axis;
- a second arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arm is configured to be rotatably coupled to the vehicle at a second horizontal axis;
- a stepping platform comprising a stepping surface;
- and
- a support component connected to the stepping platform, wherein the second end of the first arm is rotatably coupled to support component at a third horizontal axis, and wherein the second end of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the support component at a fourth horizontal axis,
- wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to rotate the stepping platform between a stowed position and a deployed position,
- wherein, when the stepping platform is in the deployed position, the third and fourth horizontal axes are both positioned outboard of the first and second horizontal axes, and
- wherein the extendable step is configured such that, when viewed perpendicular to the horizontal axes, an instant center of the extendable step is positioned within a horizontal dimension of the stepping platform in both the stowed position and the deployed position.
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- and
- an extendable step configured for horizontal motion, the extendable step comprising:
- a first arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first arm is rotatably coupled to the vehicle frame at a first horizontal axis;
- a second arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the vehicle frame at a second horizontal axis;
- a stepping platform comprising a stepping surface;
- and
- a support component connected to the stepping platform, wherein the second end of the first arm is rotatably coupled to support component at a third horizontal axis, and wherein the second end of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the support component at a fourth horizontal axis,
- wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to rotate the stepping platform between a stowed position and a deployed position,
- wherein, when the stepping platform is in the deployed position, the third and fourth horizontal axes are both positioned outboard of the first and second horizontal axes, and
- wherein the extendable step is configured such that, when viewed perpendicular to the horizontal axes, an instant center of the extendable step is positioned within a horizontal dimension of the stepping platform in both the stowed position and the deployed position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.