Running board for use with motor vehicle and method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle

A method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) attaching a forward bracket adapter to a forward fastening plate and attaching a rearward bracket adapter to a rearward fastening plate, the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate being provided as part of a bracket assembly including a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and a step member attached to the bar;
• (b) attaching the forward bracket adapter and the rearward bracket adapter to a motor vehicle;
• and
• (c) attaching a shroud to a bracket assembly, the shroud comprising:
• (i) a step shroud covering and enclosing the step member of the bracket assembly;
• (ii) a forward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to a forward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface;
• and
• (iii) a rearward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface.

A running board for a motor vehicle comprising:

• (a) a bracket assembly comprising:
• (i) a forward fastening plate and a rearward fastening plate for attachment to a motor vehicle;
• (ii) a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate;
• (iii) a step member attached to the bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate and providing a step area;
• and
• (b) shroud for covering the bracket assembly comprising:
• (i) a step shroud constructed to cover and enclose the step member of the bracket assembly;
• (ii) a forward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to the motor vehicle;
• and
• (iii) a rearward shroud constructed to cover and enclose the bar extending from the step member to the rearward fastening plate and to extend toward a motor vehicle exterior surface when the running board is attached to the motor vehicle.

A method for installing a running board on a motor vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) attaching a forward fastening plate and attaching a rearward fastening plate to a motor vehicle, wherein the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate being provided as part of a bracket assembly comprising a bar extending between the forward fastening plate and the rearward fastening plate, and a step member attached to the bar;
• (b) attaching a shroud to the bracket assembly, the shroud comprising:
• (i) a step shroud covering and enclosing the step member of the bracket assembly;
• (ii) a forward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to the forward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface;
• and
• (iii) a rearward shroud covering and enclosing the bar extending from the step member to a rearward fastening plate and extending toward a motor vehicle exterior surface.