Door-operated boarding step for trucks

• US 4,200,303 A
• Filed: 06/12/1978
• Issued: 04/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patrick N. Kelly
• Original Assignee: Patrick N. Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Patrick N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/914,549
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 280/166, 280/164 R, 280/164 A, 182/88
• US Class Current: 280/166
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A door-operated boarding step for trucks, and the like, has a first step member and a second step member telescopingly attached to one another, with the first step member being mountable on a vehicle beneath a door of the vehicle so as to permit the second step member to be extended relative to the first step member on opening of the vehicle door by an operator connected to the second step member and the door for providing a step beneath the door which facilitates movements between a cab of the truck and the surface supporting the vehicle. Extension of the second step member is done against the bias of a spring connected to the first step member and second member, which spring is deflected sufficiently to retract the second step member relative to the first step member when the door is moved from an open mode to the normal, closed mode.

Claims

1. A door operated boarding step for vehicles, comprising, in combination:

(a) first and second step members, the second step member being slidingly supported from the first step member for extension and retraction thereto and including a foot engageable rest supported therefrom, the first step member being mountable on a vehicle beneath a door thereof; and

(b) operator means connected to the second step member and connectible to the door of the vehicle for extending the second step means from the first step means when the door is in an open mode, said operator means including a spring connected to the first step member and to the second step member for biasing the second step member toward the first step member and retracting the second step member relative to the first step member when the door of the vehicle is in a closed mode, said first step member including a hollow sleeve, said second step member being slidably disposed in said sleeve, the spring being a tension spring disposed within said sleeve, and anchored to the first step member and the second step member for biasing the latter into the former.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the first step member is provided with a slot extending longitudinally in a direction of extension and retraction of the second step member, a protrusion slidably disposed in the slot and connected to the second step member and to the door of the vehicle for extending the second step member against the bias of the spring when the door of the vehicle is moved from a closed mode to an open mode.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, further including mounting means provided on the first step member for affixing the first step member to the vehicle.

4. In combination with a vehicle including a frame, a door sill, and a door pivotally mounted above the door sill, a door-operated boarding step disposed beneath the door sill, the boarding step comprising, in combination:

(a) first and second step members, the second step member being slidably supported from the first step member for extension and retraction relative thereto and including a foot engageable rest supported therefrom, the first step member being mounted on the frame of the vehicle; and

(b) operator means connected to the second step member and to the door for extending the second step member from the first step member when the door is in an open mode, the operator means including a spring connected to the first step member and to the second step member for biasing the second step member toward the first step member and retracting the second step member relative to the first step member when the door of the vehicles is in a closed mode, the first step member being in the form of a hollow sleeve, and the second step member being slidably disposed in the first step member, the spring comprising a tension spring disposed within the first step member, and anchored to the first step member and the second step member for biasing the latter into the former.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the first step member is provided with a slot extending longitudinally in a direction of extension and retraction of the second step member, a protrusion slidably disposed in the slot and connected to the second step member and to the door of the vehicle for extending the second step member against the bias of the spring when the door of the vehicles is moved from a closed mode to an open mode.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, further including mounting means provided on the first step member for affixing the first step member to the vehicle.

7. In combination with a vehicle including a high door sill and a frame member of said vehicle accessible from beneath the vehicle and spaced inwardly of said sill, a mount supported from said frame member and projecting toward said sill, said mount including an upstanding mounting plate for abutting against and rigid securement over the outer side of said frame member, a downwardly and outwardly inclined tubular sleeve having its upper end anchored relative to an upper portion of said plate, a horizontal brace member extending and connected between a lower portion of said plate and the lower end of said sleeve, an elongated inclined step member slidingly telescoped into and extendable downwardly from and retractable upwardly relative to the lower end of said tubular sleeve along a distinctly downwardly and outwardly inclined path relative to said plate and sill, said vehicle including a door shiftably supported therefrom for movement between open and closed positions relative to said sill, and operator means connected between said door and step member for automatically extending and retracting said step in response to opening and closing, respectively, of said door, said step, when in said retracted position, being positioned closely beneath said sill, said operator means including a spring connected between said sleeve and step member for biasing the latter toward its retracted position and an elongated flexible tension member connected between said door and step member for pulling said step member toward an extended position in response to movement to said door from its closed position toward its open position.