Step device for a vehicle tailgate
OwnerKerry Genest, Randy Genestinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A step device mounts on the tailgate of a truck to pivot downwardly and rearwardly from the open tailgate in a working position for providing easier access to the truck box. The step device includes a base fastened onto the tailgate upon which two rails are slidably mounted between retracted and extended positions. A pair of legs are pivotally coupled to rear ends of the respective rails and are joined by a step member opposite the pivoted ends. The base is fully unobstructed between the rails and the area between the legs is fully unobstructed above the step member to remove any tripping hazards in use.
Claims18
A step device for a supporting surface of a vehicle arranged to span generally horizontally in a first direction from an inner end of the supporting surface to an opposing outer end of the supporting surface, the step device comprising:
- a base arranged for attachment to the supporting surface;
- a pair of rails mounted on the base parallel and spaced apart from one another so as to be arranged to extend longitudinally in the first direction between an inner end of the rails and an outer end of the rails, each rail being longitudinally slidable relative to the base between an extended position in which the outer end is arranged to project outwardly in the first direction beyond the outer end of the supporting surface and a retracted position in which the outer end does not project outwardly beyond the outer end of the supporting surface;
- a leg pivotally coupled at a first end to the outer end of each rail such that the leg is pivotal relative to the respective rail through a range of more than 225 degrees between a working position arranged to extend downwardly from the first end of the leg at the outer end of the respective rail in the extended position of the respective rail to an opposing second end of the leg and a stored position arranged to extend alongside the respective rail from the first end of the leg at the outer end of the respective rail to the second end of the leg adjacent the inner end of the respective rail;
- and
- a step joined between the legs at a location spaced from the first ends of the legs such that the legs are pivotal together between the working position and the stored position thereof and such that the rails are slidable together in the stored position of the legs between the extended position and the retracted position of the rails;
- wherein the base consists of a flat plate member upon which the rails are supported;
- and
- wherein the rails are connected only by the flat plate member of the base such that the base is substantially unobstructed between the rails above the flat plate member of the base.
A step device for a supporting surface of a vehicle arranged to span generally horizontally in a first direction from an inner end to an opposing outer end, the step device comprising:
- a base arranged for attachment to the supporting surface;
- a pair of rails mounted on the base parallel and spaced apart from one another so as to be arranged to extend longitudinally in the first direction between an inner end and an outer end of the rails, each rail being longitudinally slidable relative to the base between an extended position in which the outer end is arranged to project outwardly in the first direction beyond the outer end of the supporting surface and a retracted position in which the outer end does not project outwardly beyond the outer end of the supporting surface;
- a leg pivotally coupled at a first end to the outer end of each rail such that the leg is pivotal relative to the respective rail through a range of more than 225 degrees between a working position arranged to extend downwardly from the first end of the leg at the outer end of the respective rail in the extended position of the respective rail to an opposing second end of the leg and a stored position arranged to extend alongside the respective rail from the first end of the leg at the outer end of the respective rail to the second end of the leg adjacent the inner end of the respective rail;
- and
- a step joined between the legs at a location spaced from the first ends of the legs such that the legs are pivotal together between the working position and the stored position thereof and such that the rails are slidable together in the stored position of the legs between the extended position and the retracted position of the rails;
- wherein the base is substantially unobstructed between the rails;
- and
- wherein each rail comprises a generally U-shaped channel comprising a pair of parallel and spaced apart side flanges extending upwardly from a base flange joined therebetween and receiving the respective leg therebetween in the stored position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.