Portable stair structure for vehicle, stair structure kit, and methods of using same

A stair structure for attaching to an underside of a vehicle or trailer bed, said stair structure comprising:

• an upper platform;
• a connector assembly for connecting the upper platform to the bed, the connector assembly comprising a pivot pin and a mounting structure;
• a pair of spaced apart side supports operatively attached to an underside of the platform and extending downwardly therefrom at an angle;
• a plurality of spaced-apart step members extending between the side supports and oriented substantially parallel to one another;
• and
• a latch assembly for temporarily locking a position of the stair assembly;
• wherein the connector assembly is configured and arranged such that when the stair structure is attached to the bed, it can be pivotally moved about the pivot pin, which extends along a substantially vertical axis, between a storage position below the vehicle or trailer bed, and a deployed position which extends outwardly from an edge of the vehicle or trailer bed.

A kit of components for use in constructing a stair structure for attaching to an underside of a vehicle or trailer bed, said kit comprising:

• an upper platform;
• a connector assembly for connecting the upper platform to the bed, the connector assembly comprising a pivot pin and a mounting structure;
• a pair of spaced apart side supports configured to be operatively attached to the platform and to extend downwardly therefrom at an angle;
• a plurality of spaced-apart step members extending between the side supports and oriented substantially parallel to one another;
• and
• a latch assembly for temporarily locking a position of the stair assembly;
• wherein the connector assembly is configured and arranged such that when the stair structure is attached to the bed, it can be pivotally moved about the pivot pin, which extends along a substantially vertical axis, between a stored position below the bed and a deployed position which extends outwardly from an edge of the bed.

A method of using a stair structure which is pivotally attached to a bed of a vehicle or trailer, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) unlatching the stair structure from the vehicle or trailer bed by moving a latch member;
• b) pivotally moving the stair structure out from below the vehicle or trailer bed, and placing the stair structure into a deployed position thereof;
• c) optionally, climbing up stairs of the stair structure and on to the vehicle or trailer bed;
• d) optionally, descending the stairs,
• e) pivotally moving the stair structure into the storage position, and
• f) moving the latch member to temporarily lock the stair structure in the storage position.