Retractable step

• US 7,976,042 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ben Yang, Bradley E. Watson, Charles J. Chuba, Christopher J. Kuntze, John Harding, Trevor Thompson
• Original Assignee: Ben Yang, Bradley E. Watson, Charles J. Chuba, Christopher J. Kuntze, John Harding, Trevor Thompson
• Inventors: Harding, John, Yang, Ben, Watson, Bradley E., Chuba, Charles J., Thompson, Trevor, Kuntze, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanaman; Frank B
• Application Number:
  US11/841,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/164.1, 280/166, 280/169, 182/127
• 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 step assembly includes an upper housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A step is movable relative to the upper housing between a stowed position and a deployed position. A single arm is pivotal with respect to the upper housing and pivotal with respect to the step in order to form a three-bar linkage for moving the step between the stowed and deployed positions.

Claims

1. A step assembly for a motor vehicle, said step assembly comprising:

an upper housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the motor vehicle, said upper housing including a notch formed therealong;

a step movable relative to said upper housing between a stowed position and a deployed position;

a single arm pivotal with respect to said upper housing and pivotal with respect to said step for moving said step between said stowed and deployed positions, said arm including a deploy lock pin selectively received within said notch to maintain said step in said deployed position;

a link having one end fixedly secured to said step and an opposing end pivotally coupled to said arm, said link including at least one locking surface formed therealong, said locking surface directly engageable with said arm providing a stop for said step in said deployed position; and

a cable having a first end coupled to said deploy lock pin and a second end coupled to said link wherein actuation of said second end pulls said deploy lock pin out of said notch and allows said step to move from said deployed position to said stowed position.

2. A step assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a pivot pin fixedly supporting said arm therealong.

3. A step assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a latch assembly operably coupled to said arm and selectively preventing movement of said arm with respect to said upper housing and said step.

4. A step assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch assembly includes a latch hub fixedly mounted along said pivot pin and pivotally movable in response to pivotal movement of said arm.

5. A step assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said latch assembly includes a pawl selectively locking said latch hub to retain said step in said stowed position.

6. A step assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes an upper slot, said deploy lock pin is disposed within said upper slot.

7. A step assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said deploy lock pin is biased toward said upper housing.

8. A step assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a deploy spring connected to said deploy lock pin, said deploy spring biasing said deploy lock pin toward said upper housing.

9. A step assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link includes a slot formed therealong, said arm including a tilt lock pin selectively received within said slot to prevent said step from tilting out of said stowed position.

10. A step assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said arm includes a lower slot, said tilt lock pin is disposed within said lower slot.

11. A step assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said tilt lock pin is biased toward said link.

12. A step assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a tilt lock spring connected to said tilt lock pin, said tilt lock spring biasing said tilt lock pin toward said link.

13. A step assembly for a motor vehicle, said step assembly comprising:

an upper housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the motor vehicle, said upper housing including a notch formed therealong;

a step movable relative to said upper housing between a stowed position and a deployed position;

a single arm pivotal with respect to said upper housing for moving said step between said stowed and deployed positions, said arm including a deploy lock pin selectively received within said notch to maintain said step in said deployed position;

a link having one end fixedly secured to said step and an opposing end pivotally coupled to said arm; and

a cable having a first end coupled to said deploy lock pin and a second end coupled to said link wherein actuation of said second end pulls said deploy lock pin out of said notch and allows said step to move from said deployed position to said stowed position.

14. A step assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said arm includes an upper slot, said deploy lock pin is disposed within said upper slot.

15. A step assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said deploy lock pin is biased toward said upper housing.

16. A step assembly as set forth in claim 15 including a deploy spring connected to said deploy lock pin, said deploy spring biasing said deploy lock pin toward said upper housing.

17. A step assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said link includes a slot formed therealong, said arm including a tilt lock pin selectively received within said slot to prevent said step from tilting out of said stowed position.

18. A step assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said arm includes a lower slot, said tilt lock pin is disposed within said lower slot.

19. A step assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said tilt lock pin is biased toward said link.

20. A step assembly as set forth in claim 19 including a tilt lock spring connected to said tilt lock pin, said tilt lock spring biasing said tilt lock pin toward said link.