Receiver hitch step attachment

• US 5,803,475 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward R. Dick
• Original Assignee: Edward R. Dick
• Inventors: Dick, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YU, MIN SON
• Application Number:
  US08/696,351
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/164.1, 280/166, 280/500, 280/482, 280/415.1, 296/62, 182/91, 182/92
• US Class Current: 280/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/007 Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005

Abstract

A receiver hitch step attachment mounts to the existing receiver hitch of a pickup truck and supports a set of steps that are adjustable laterally and vertically. An auxiliary stabilizer leg is provided for engaging the ground beneath the attachment when the truck is parked in order to support the vehicle against rocking when weight is applied to the steps or when moving about in the camper.

Claims

1. A receiver hitch step attachment for a vehicle having an existing tubular receiver hitch, said attachment comprising:

an elongate drawbar having a leading end slidable into supporting engagement with the existing receiver hitch of the vehicle and an opposite trailing end configured to support a hitch coupling releasably engageable with a mating hitch coupling of a trailer;

at least an upper step and a lower step; and

connecting structure connecting said steps to said drawbar and to one another and enabling lateral adjustment of said steps relative to said drawbar and vertical adjustment of said steps relative to one another.

2. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 wherein said connecting structure includes a laterally adjustable central mounting bracket interconnecting said lower step and said drawbar.

3. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 2 wherein said connecting structure includes a plurality of laterally spaced mounting holes provided in said lower step, said mounting bracket being engageable with selected ones of said mounting holes to secure said steps in a corresponding selected position of lateral adjustment relative to said drawbar.

4. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 3 wherein said mounting holes are squared and said mounting bracket includes carriage bolts having correspondingly squared necks receivable in said squared mounting holes of said lower step.

5. The receiver hitch of claim 4 wherein said lower step includes two sets of said laterally spaced mounting holes provided adjacent leading and trailing edges of said lower step and said mounting bracket includes at least pairs of said carriage bolts straddling opposite sides of said drawbar.

6. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 5 wherein said mounting bracket includes retaining straps extending beneath said drawbar and engaging said carriage bolts.

7. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 wherein said connecting structure includes vertically adjustable side bracket assemblies joining said steps together along opposite lateral sides thereof.

8. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 7 wherein said steps and said side brackets frame a generally unobstructed open space between said steps when viewed lengthwise of said drawbar.

9. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 7 wherein said side bracket assemblies include a pair of lower brackets fixed on said lower step adjacent its opposite lateral sides and a corresponding pair of upper brackets fixed on said upper step adjacent its laterally opposite sides, and a vertically adjustable connection joining said upper bracket to said lower bracket.

10. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 9 wherein said vertically adjustable connection comprises vertically elongate slots and adjustment bolts accommodated for sliding movement along said slots.

11. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 wherein said upper step is supported for fore and aft adjustment relative to said lower step.

12. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 including a foldable third step coupled pivotally to said lower step and movable between an operative use position below said lower step and an inoperative folded position upon said lower step.

13. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 12 including hinge bracket assemblies secured to said lower step and said foldable third step adjacent opposite lateral edges of said steps.

14. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 13 including stops provided on said hinge bracket assemblies to support said foldable step in said use position.

15. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 13 wherein said upper and said lower steps define a generally unobstructed open space therebetween through which a license plate of the vehicle may be seen when said step attachment is secured to the receiver hitch of the vehicle, said open space remaining substantially unobstructed when said foldable step is positioned in said folded position on said lower step.

16. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 wherein said drawbar includes a square tubular sleeve portion having an open trailing end defining a secondary receiver socket for mounting a conventional hitch coupling, said drawbar including an elongate extension piece secured at one end within said leading end of said sleeve portion and projecting to a forward free end thereof slidable into supporting engagement with the existing receiver hitch of the vehicle.

17. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 16 wherein said free end of said tongue portion includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced attachment holes selectively alignable with corresponding attachment holes of the receiver hitch of the vehicle for receiving a locking pin to secure said tongue in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment.

18. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 16 wherein said sleeve slidably supports said extension piece enabling adjustment in the effective length of said drawbar, said one end of said extension having a plurality of longitudinally spaced mounting holes selectively alignable with a set of mounting holes provided on said leading end of said sleeve, and a locking pin extending through said selectively aligned mounting holes to secure said extension piece in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to said sleeve.

19. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 1 including a stabilizing device having an adjustable length leg supported by said extension bar for movement between a use position in which said leg extends downwardly to engage the ground beneath said step attachment for providing stability to the vehicle when parked, and a stowed position in which said leg is supported above the ground.

20. A receiver step attachment for a vehicle having a square tubular receiver that is open to define a socket for normally slidably accommodating a conventional hitch coupling, said attachment comprising:

an adjustable length drawbar having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, said leading end being receivable slidably into the receiver socket of the vehicle to vary the effective length of said drawbar extending beyond the receiver, said leading end including a plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of mounting holes alignable with mounting holes of the receiver to accommodate a locking pin for securing said drawbar releasably to the receiver in a selected position of length, said trailing end of said drawbar having an open ended tubular construction defining a secondary receiver socket for mounting the hitch coupling;

a step assembly including at least an upper step and a lower step each extending transversely of said extension bar between opposite lateral sides thereof;

a pair of side bracket assemblies joining said upper step to said lower step adjacent said lateral sides thereof defining an opening between said steps and said brackets that is generally unobstructed, said side brackets providing a vertical adjustment enabling the position of said upper step to be adjusted vertically relative to said lower step; and

a central mounting bracket interconnecting said lower step and said drawbar and providing lateral adjustment in the position of said steps relative to said drawbar.

21. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 20 wherein said step assembly includes a third foldable step pivoted to said lower step for movement between a use position in which said third step is supported below of said lower step and a stowed position in which said third step is disposed on top of said lower step.

22. The receiver hitch step attachment of claim 21 including a stabilizer unit having an adjustable length leg supported by said drawbar for movement between a use position in which said leg extends downwardly to engage the ground beneath said attachment and a stowed position in which said leg is supported out of engagement with the ground.

23. A receiver step attachment for a vehicle having a tubular receiver, said attachment comprising:

a drawbar having a leading end slidable into supporting engagement with the receiver of the vehicle and a trailing end having an open ended tubular configuration defining a secondary receiver socket for mounting a conventional hitch coupling;

at least one step mounted on said drawbar; and

a stabilizer unit having an adjustable length leg supported by said drawbar for movement between a stabilizing position in which said leg extends downwardly to engage the ground beneath said attachment and a stowed position in which said leg is supported out of engagement with the ground.