Auxiliary step and hand hold system

• US 8,720,924 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip C Ruehl
• Original Assignee: Phillip C Ruehl
• Inventors: Ruehl, Phillip C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US12/494,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 280/163, 280/164.1, 280/166, 296/1.02, 182/97, 182/106, 182/127
• US Class Current: 280/164.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/00 Arrangements of steps or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle, e.g. running-boards construction of steps for railway vehicles B61D23/00 ; ladders E06C
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence

Abstract

An auxiliary step and hand hold system for accessing a vehicle. The system includes at least one auxiliary step, at least one hand hold shaped to assist a climb into the trailer, and at least one pocket shaped to removably receive the at least one hand hold. The auxiliary step may be a rotating-retractable step that rotates between a use position and a stowed position. The hand hold is shaped to assist a climb into the cargo bay and may be inserted into the pockets in a use position and a stowed position. One or more stationary steps can also be used in connection with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The hand holds, pockets and auxiliary steps may be used alone or in combination to assist with access to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An auxiliary step and hand hold system for accessing the cargo bay of a trailer, the trailer having an under-ride guard beam, a floor and at least one door, the auxiliary step and hand hold system comprising:

a rotating-retractable step mountable to the under-ride guard beam, wherein the rotating-retractable step can be positioned below the under-ride guard beam in a use position and above the under-ride guard beam in a stowed position;

a first pocket and a second pocket, both mountable to the trailer at a level lower than the at least one door and above the rotating-retractable step; and

a first hand hold and a second hand hold, each shaped to assist a climb into the cargo bay and insertable into the pockets in a use position;

further comprising a first cable attached to the first hand hold and the trailer and a second cable attached to the second hand hold and the trailer.

2. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, wherein the rotating-retractable step includes at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to the under-ride guard beam, a horizontal step member having at least an upwardly facing stepping surface, and a pair of side supports extending between the at least one mounting portion and the horizontal step member, wherein each of the side supports is connected to the mounting portion with a hinge pin and pin retainer.

3. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, wherein the rotating-retractable step includes at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to the under-ride guard beam, a horizontal step member having at least an upwardly facing stepping surface, and a pair of side supports extending between the at least one mounting portion and the horizontal step member, wherein the side supports are connected to the mounting portion with a pivot tab and pivot bolt or drive screw.

4. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, further comprising a stationary step with horizontal step member, wherein the stationary step is mounted on the under-ride guard beam such that the horizontal step member of the stationary step is positioned above the under-ride guard beam and the rotating-retractable step when the rotating-retractable step is in the use position.

5. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, further comprising a stationary step mounted in between the under-ride guard beam and the floor of the trailer.

6. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, further comprising a third pocket and a fourth pocket mounted on an inner surface of the at least one door of the trailer.

7. The step and hand hold system of claim 1, wherein the rotating-retractable step has an upwardly facing stepping surface including an outside edge, and a plurality of holes formed along the outside edge, wherein at least a portion of the holes include a tooth that extends substantially perpendicular the stepping surface.

8. The step and hand hold system of claim 2, wherein the pin retainer is integrally formed with the side support and mounting portion.

9. An auxiliary step and hand hold system for accessing the cargo bay of a trailer, the trailer having an under-ride guard beam, a floor and at least one door, the auxiliary step and hand hold system comprising:

a rotating-retractable step mountable to the under-ride guard beam, wherein the rotating-retractable step can be positioned below the under-ride guard beam in a use position and above the under-ride guard beam in a stowed position;

a first pocket and a second pocket, both mountable to the trailer at a level lower than the doors and above the rotating-retractable step; and

a first hand hold and a second hand hold, each shaped to assist a climb into the cargo bay and insertable into the pockets in a use position;

wherein the rotating-retractable step includes a stepping surface with an edge support flange and a horizontal scraping lip extending from the bottom of the edge support flange outwardly away from the under-ride guard beam.

10. The step and hand hold system of claim 9, wherein the rotating-retractable step includes at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to the under-ride guard beam, a horizontal step member having at least an upwardly facing stepping surface, and a pair of side supports extending between the at least one mounting portion and the horizontal step member, wherein each of the side supports is connected to the mounting portion with a hinge pin and pin retainer.

11. The step and hand hold system of claim 9, wherein the rotating-retractable step includes at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to the under-ride guard beam, a horizontal step member having at least an upwardly facing stepping surface, and a pair of side supports extending between the at least one mounting portion and the horizontal step member, wherein the side supports are connected to the mounting portion with a pivot tab and pivot bolt or drive screw.

12. The step and hand hold system of claim 9, further comprising a stationary step with horizontal step member, wherein the stationary step is mounted on the under-ride guard beam such that the horizontal step member of the stationary step is positioned above the under-ride guard beam and the rotating-retractable step when the rotating-retractable step is in the use position.

13. The step and hand hold system of claim 9, further comprising a stationary step mounted in between the under-ride guard beam and the floor of the trailer.

14. The step and hand hold system of claim 9, further comprising a third pocket and a fourth pocket mounted on an inner surface of the at least one door of the trailer.

15. An auxiliary step and hand hold system for accessing a trailer having a cargo area and an under-ride guard beam, the auxiliary step and hand hold system comprising:

at least one rotating-retractable horizontal step having an upwardly facing stepping surface, two side support legs and at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to the under-ride guard beam;

the side support legs extending between the at least one mounting portion and the at least one rotating-retractable horizontal step;

each of the side support legs is connected to the mounting portion with a hinge pin and pin retainer;

at least one hand hold shaped to assist a climb into the trailer;

at least one pocket shaped to removably receive the at least one hand hold;

wherein the at least one hand hold is removably insertable into the at least one pocket in a use position and a stowed position without extending into the cargo area of the trailer; and

, a stationary step with a horizontal step member, wherein the stationary step is mounted on the under-ride guard beam such that the horizontal step member of the stationary step is positioned above the under-ride guard beam and the rotating-retractable horizontal step when the rotating-retractable horizontal step is in the use position.

16. The step and hand hold system of claim 15, further comprising a second hand hold shaped to assist a climb into the trailer;

and a second pocket shaped to removably receive the second hand hold.

17. The step and hand hold system of claim 15, wherein the pin retainer is integrally formed with the side support and mounting portion.

18. The step and hand hold system of claim 15, wherein the side support legs are connected to the mounting portion with a pivot tab and pivot bolt or drive screw.

19. The step and hand hold system of claim 16, further comprising a third pocket and a fourth pocket mounted on an inner surface of the at least one door of the trailer.