Step assembly for vehicles
First Claim
1. A step apparatus for vehicle having a door frame and an entrance door hinged in said door frame, said door having a hinged end about which said door pivots between an open and a closed position and a locking end, the apparatus comprising:
- a mounting bracket for attachment beneath the vehicle;
two step supporting members having proximal ends pivotally attached to said mounting bracket and distal ends, each of said step supporting members having pivotal movement between a retracted positon beneath said vehicle and an extended vertical position subjacent to said vehicle, said pivotal movement of each of said step supporting members occurring about horizontal axes which are perpendicular to a longitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle, said step supporting members being attached to said mounting bracket at attachment points which are spaced apart along the longtitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle;
at least one step attached to said step supporting members, the step lying in an essentially horizontal plane;
a spring member attached beneath said vehicle and connected to at least one of said step supporting members for urging said step supporting members to the retracted position beneath said vehicle;
transmission means connectable to said door for causing said step supporting members to acquire the extended position when the door is in the open position; and
wherein the plane of the step translates vertically between the retracted and extended positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A folding step apparatus (38) is provided for vehicles having either a hinged door (26) or a sliding door (26'"'"'). The apparatus includes two parallel step supporting members (44) pivotally attached to the underside of the vehicle for adjustably supporting a step (42) or plurality of steps. A spring member (46) is used to bias the supporting members (44) and attached steps to a retracted position beneath the vehicle. A cable (64) has a first end attached to the locking end of the door and a second end attached to a front one of the supporting members (44). The cable is at least partially disposed within a hollow cord (70) which extends through portions of the vehicle frame. Opening the vehicle door causes the folding step assembly (38) to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal horizontal axis (36) of the vehicle, thereby extending the step assembly (38) for facilitating easy boarding of the vehicle.
77 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A step apparatus for vehicle having a door frame and an entrance door hinged in said door frame, said door having a hinged end about which said door pivots between an open and a closed position and a locking end, the apparatus comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment beneath the vehicle; two step supporting members having proximal ends pivotally attached to said mounting bracket and distal ends, each of said step supporting members having pivotal movement between a retracted positon beneath said vehicle and an extended vertical position subjacent to said vehicle, said pivotal movement of each of said step supporting members occurring about horizontal axes which are perpendicular to a longitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle, said step supporting members being attached to said mounting bracket at attachment points which are spaced apart along the longtitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle; at least one step attached to said step supporting members, the step lying in an essentially horizontal plane; a spring member attached beneath said vehicle and connected to at least one of said step supporting members for urging said step supporting members to the retracted position beneath said vehicle; transmission means connectable to said door for causing said step supporting members to acquire the extended position when the door is in the open position; and wherein the plane of the step translates vertically between the retracted and extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A step apparatus for a vehicle having a door frame and an entrance door hinged in said door frame, said door having a hinged end about which said door pivots between an open and a closed position and a locking end, the apparatus comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment beneath the vehicle; two step supporting members having proximal ends pivotally attached to said mounting bracket and distal ends, each of said step supporting members having pivotal movement between a retracted position beneath said vehicle and an extended vertical position subjacent said vehicle, said pivoital movement of each of said step supporting members occuring about horizontal axes which are perpendicular to a longitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle, said step supporting members being attached to said mounting bracket at attachment points which are spaced apart along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said vehicle; at least one step attached to said step supporting members, the step lying in an essentially horizontal plane; means attached beneath said vehicle and connected to said step supporting means for urging said step supporting means to the retracted position beneath said vehicle; transmission means responsive to the open position of said door for causing said step supporting members to acquire the extended position when the door is in the open position; and wherein the plane of the step translates vertically between the retracted and extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification