Modular rail and step system

• US 10,391,944 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lund Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanesic, John Matthew, Bibb, VI, William Franklin, Johnson, Brian T., Wargo, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs, James J
• Application Number:
  US15/726,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20180201194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/007 Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/433 characterised by techniques for memory access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/436 using parallelised computational arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/91 Entropy coding, e.g. variable length coding [VLC] or arithmetic coding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A modular side rail and removable step system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one aspect, the kit includes first, second, and third removable steps that may be mounted to the side rail. In one aspect, the side rail main body has a channel-shape defining a longitudinal opening between an adjacent first side and an adjacent second side. A plurality of step attachment arrangements may be provided on the first side of the side rail main body to allow the first, second, and third steps to be mounted to the side rail main body in various configurations. For example the plurality of step attachment arrangements may be arranged and configured to provide attachment locations for mounting the first and third removable steps in a first step assembly configuration and for mounting the second removable step in a second step assembly configuration.

Claims

1. A modular rail and step assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a side rail having a length extending between a first end and a second end and width extending away from the vehicle, the side rail having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the side rail main body configured to extend at least partially along a length of the vehicle;

a removable step spaced apart from the side rail, wherein the removable step has a length extending a majority of the length of the side rail,

wherein the removable step comprises a support bar attached to a step portion; and

at least one bracket configured to attach the side rail to the vehicle, the at least one bracket configured to insert into a channel in the side rail;

wherein the removable step is configured to be removably attached to the side rail at a plurality of positions along the length of the side rail and a plurality positions along a width of the side rail.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises only a single removable step.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the length of the removable step extends at least two-thirds the length of the side rail.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the side rail comprises a plurality of slots on the bottom surface for attachment with the removable step.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket is welded inside a channel of the side rail.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bar extends downwards and outwards from the side rail.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bar comprises a mounting plate on each end of the support bar, each mounting plate configured to removably connect to the bottom surface of the side rail.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the step portion comprises a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings each comprising an area measured as viewed orthogonal to a top surface of the step portion, wherein at least one of the plurality of openings comprises a larger area than another of the plurality of openings.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the step portion is welded on a top surface of the support bar.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bar is tubular.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bar is attached to the side rail via at least one removable fastener.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bar comprises a channel shape at each end of the support bar.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket is attached inside a channel of the side rail.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the step portion is attached on a top surface of the support bar.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a first modular rail and step assembly attached to a first side of the vehicle, the assembly comprising;

a side rail having a length extending between a first end and a second end and width extending away from the vehicle, the side rail having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the side rail main body configured to extend at least partially along a length of the vehicle;

a removable step spaced apart from the side rail, wherein the removable step has a length extending a majority of the length of the side rail,

wherein the removable step comprises a support bar attached to a step portion; and

at least one bracket configured to attach the side rail to the vehicle, the at least one bracket configured to insert into a channel in the side rail;

wherein the removable step is configured to be removably attached to the side rail at a plurality of positions along the length of the side rail and a plurality positions along a width of the side rail.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a second modular rail and step assembly attached to a second side of the vehicle.