Hitch-mounted extensible step for pickup trucks and other vehicles having tailgates
OwnerKenneth L Hehrinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step assembly for a pickup truck or other vehicle having a hitch receiver and a tailgate. The assembly includes a stationary upper support that is inserted in the receiver and a sliding lower support having a step mounted to its rearward end. The lower support is extensible from a retracted position in which the step member is positioned proximate the hitch receiver, to an extended position in which the step member is positioned rearwardly of the receiver by a distance sufficient that the step member may be stood upon when the tailgate of the vehicle is an open, lowered position. The step member pivots from a horizontal orientation in the deployed position to a vertical orientation when installed.
Claims19
A step assembly for a vehicle having a hitch receiver and a tailgate, said hitch assembly comprising:
- a stationary upper support member that is insertable in said hitch receiver so as to support said assembly therefrom;
- a frame member mounted to and extending downwardly from said upper support member;
- a sliding lower support member mounted in said frame member generally below and parallel to said upper support member for movement from a forward, retracted position to a rearward, extended position;
- and
- a step member mounted to a rearward end of said sliding lower support member so that when said lower support member is in said retracted position said step member is positioned proximate said hitch receiver and when said lower support member is in said extended position said step member is positioned rearwardly of said hitch receiver by a distance sufficient that said step member may be stood upon when said tailgate of said vehicle is in an open, lowered position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.