Tailgate access step
Assignee89908, Inc.
InventorsHorst Leitner, Anthony Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a rear portion of a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step provides clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time.
Claims48
A retractable vehicle step, comprising:
- a first mount having a front end and a back end;
- a second mount;
- a first arm coupled to said first mount by a first pivotal connection and
- a second arm coupled to said first mount by a second pivotal connection, said first arm coupled to said second mount by a third pivotal connection defining a first axis and said second arm coupled to said second mount by a fourth pivotal connection defining a second axis;
- a stepping member coupled to said second mount being moveable between a retracted position and a longitudinally extended position, said stepping member defining a back outer edge;
- a biasing mechanism being operably coupled to said stepping member and configured to urge said stepping member toward said retracted position and at least partially resist movement of the stepping member from said extended position toward said retracted position;
- wherein said step is securable to a vehicle defining a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear of the vehicle, said back outer edge of said stepping member forms an angle with respect to said first axis and said second axis such that said stepping member is laterally displaced by a predetermined distance equal to at least 2 inches and longitudinally displaced by a predetermined distance when transitioning between said retracted position and said extended position.
An assembly comprising:
- a vehicle defining a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear of the vehicle;
- and
- a retractable vehicle step, comprising:
- a first mount having a front end and a back end;
- a second mount;
- a first arm coupled to said first mount by a first pivotal connection and
- a second arm coupled to said first mount by a second pivotal connection, said first arm coupled to said second mount by a third pivotal connection defining a first axis and said second arm coupled to said second mount by a fourth pivotal connection defining a second axis;
- a stepping member coupled to said second mount being moveable between a retracted position and a longitudinally extended position;
- a biasing mechanism being operably coupled to said stepping member and configured to urge said stepping member toward said retracted position and at least partially resist movement of the stepping member from said extended position toward said retracted position;
- wherein said step is secured to said vehicle so that said first axis and said second axis form an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle such that said stepping member is laterally displaced by a predetermined distance equal to at least 2 inches and longitudinally displaced by a predetermined distance when transitioning between said retracted position and said extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.