Truck step

• US 5,007,654 A
• Filed: 06/29/1989
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Sauber
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Sauber
• Inventors: Sauber, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/373,250
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 280/166, 280/164.1, 280/163, 182/86, 182/89, 182/91, 182/127, 182/164
• 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 vehicle step assembly for mounting to a truck structure permits forward and rearward swinging upon encountering obstacles and comprises an inverted U-shaped support bracket which can be affixed to a vehicle and a platform assembly which is rotatable about a shiftable axis interconnected with the support bracket. The support bracket also provides rotation guide channels for directing rotation and includes detents to vertically secure against rotation of the step in use or while the vehicle is in motion. The step assembly includes a horizontal cross member which rotates freely within cam shaped apertures in the support assembly and allows the rotational axis of the platform assembly to shift. Vertical support members fixedly mounted to the expanded metal step platform include guide pins which track the support guide channels and direct the platform assembly between its rigid vertical position and forward or rearward rotated positions.

Claims

1. For use in connection with a vehicle body structure, step means attachable to said vehicle body structure comprising:

a frame member having means for securing to the vehicle body structure, said frame member including an inverted U-shape bracket having spaced apart legs which are disposed in substantially vertical parallel planes, each leg having a substantially triangular aperture, one point of the triangular aperture extending downward with respect to the leg, and at least one leg having a V-shaped guide channel having a detent; and

a step member comprising a platform and substantially parallel arms coupled to opposite sides of the platform, each said arm having an axial pin and at least one arm having a guide pin, said pins being disposed such that the guide pins are movable in the guide channels and the axial pins are received in the apertures and define a rotational axis of the step member, said axial pins being movable in the apertures to shift the rotational axis of the step member, said axis having a first position such that the axial pins are seated in the downwardly extending points of the apertures and the guide pins are engaged in the detent under the force of gravity and the platform is rigidly coupled to the frame member so that the platform may be used as a step, and a second position such that the axial pins are not seated in the downwardly extending points of the apertures and the guide pins are movable in the guide channel whereby the step member may be swung forwardly or rearwardly upon contact with an obstruction.

2. A step means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is rigidly coupled to the frame member in a forward position or a rearward position when the axial pins are seated in the downwardly extending points of the apertures and the guide pins extend beyond the guide channels, such that the guide pins are held in position by gravity and the platform may be used as a step.

3. A vehicle step means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the platform is an expanded metal structure.

4. A vehicle step means as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes a pair of ears adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle structure.

5. A vehicle step means as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first position of the axis is downwardly and the second position is upwardly with respect to the frame.