Horizontal retractable vehicle step
First Claim
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1. An extendable step configured for horizontal motion, the extendible step comprising:
- a pair of arms rotatably configured to be attached to a vehicle at a first end of each of the pair of arms, wherein a first arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a first horizontal axis and a second arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a second horizontal axis; and
a stepping platform attached to the pair of arms at a second end of each of the pair of arms, said stepping platform defining a stepping surface, said stepping surface defining a stepping surface plane, wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a third horizontal axis and the second arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a fourth horizontal axis;
wherein the third and fourth horizontal axes are both positioned below the stepping surface plane;
wherein the stepping platform and the pair of arms are configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployed position;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth horizontal axes are positioned such that;
in the stowed position, a first plane that passes through the first and third horizontal axes intersects with a second plane that passes through the second and fourth horizontal axes above the first and second horizontal axes;
in the deployed position, the first plane intersects with the second plane below the third and fourth horizontal axes; and
while rotating between the stowed position and the deployed position, an angle between the stepping surface plane and a horizontal plane will decrease or increase, but will not decrease or increase in angle more than 15 degrees from the stowed position to the deployed position.
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Abstract
A horizontally moving retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle, such as a low to the ground vehicle like a van. The horizontal vehicle step can provide access to different portions of the vehicle. Further, the horizontal vehicle step can act as a safety mechanism to reduce potential harm to a user in accidentally stepping in gaps between the vehicle and a curb.
325 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An extendable step configured for horizontal motion, the extendible step comprising:
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a pair of arms rotatably configured to be attached to a vehicle at a first end of each of the pair of arms, wherein a first arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a first horizontal axis and a second arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a second horizontal axis; and a stepping platform attached to the pair of arms at a second end of each of the pair of arms, said stepping platform defining a stepping surface, said stepping surface defining a stepping surface plane, wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a third horizontal axis and the second arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a fourth horizontal axis; wherein the third and fourth horizontal axes are both positioned below the stepping surface plane; wherein the stepping platform and the pair of arms are configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployed position; wherein the first, second, third, and fourth horizontal axes are positioned such that; in the stowed position, a first plane that passes through the first and third horizontal axes intersects with a second plane that passes through the second and fourth horizontal axes above the first and second horizontal axes; in the deployed position, the first plane intersects with the second plane below the third and fourth horizontal axes; and while rotating between the stowed position and the deployed position, an angle between the stepping surface plane and a horizontal plane will decrease or increase, but will not decrease or increase in angle more than 15 degrees from the stowed position to the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle having a horizontally extending step for ease of access, the vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle frame; and a horizontally extending step comprising; a pair of arms rotatably configured to be attached the vehicle frame at a first end of each of the pair of arms, wherein a first arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a first horizontal axis and a second arm of the pair of arms is rotatable about a second horizontal axis; and a stepping platform attached to the pair of arms at a second end of each of the pair of arms, said stepping platform defining a stepping surface, said stepping surface defining a stepping surface plane, wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a third horizontal axis and the second arm is rotatably coupled to the stepping platform at a fourth horizontal axis; wherein the third and fourth horizontal axes are both positioned below the stepping surface plane; wherein the stepping platform and the pair of arms are configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployed position; wherein the first, second, third, and fourth horizontal axes are positioned such that; in the stowed position, a first plane that passes through the first and third horizontal axes intersects with a second plane that passes through the second and fourth horizontal axes above the first and second horizontal axes; in the deployed position, the first plane intersects with the second plane below the third and fourth horizontal axes; and while rotating between the stowed position and the deployed position, an angle between the stepping surface plane and a horizontal plane will decrease or increase, but will not decrease or increase in angle more than 15 degrees from the stowed position to the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification