Moveable step for assisting entry into vehicles

• US 9,758,104 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N-Fab Inc. (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: N-Fab Inc. (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fichter, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMMONS, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US14/656,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150183376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• 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 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/02 at the sides, e.g. on running-board

Abstract

A side bar and steps attached to the side attached to a vehicle or to the side of the vehicle by gears, ratcheting teeth or other movable engagement to the side bar or vehicle. A step is constructed by attaching a curved or flat member to the top of an L-shaped support bar that is in turn connected to the side bar or vehicle. The steps are movably affixed to the side bar or vehicle via ratcheting teeth or gearing. The L-shaped supports have a plurality of engagement points so that the step can be adjusted upward and downward using the different attachment points on the gear or ratchet. In this manner steps can be moved for different users depending on the height of the vehicle or user preference. The L-shaped support bars may be flared outward and provided with a plate for mounting the step thereon.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles comprising:

a. a generally elongate side bar adapted for horizontal attachment to a vehicle wherein said bar is fixedly attached to a side of the vehicle and extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

b. a step assembly comprising a pair of generally L-shaped supports and a step fixedly attached to said L-shaped supports, wherein said L-shaped supports are engagable with opposite sides of a flat tab, said assembly is moveable in a generally diagonal axial direction between a plurality of discrete mounting positions with said tab, and said L-shaped supports are attached to said side bar at one of said discrete mounting positions and extend perpendicular to said longitudinal axis with the step fixedly attached to said L-shaped supports for stable engagement without engagement of said L-shaped supports directly to a chassis of said vehicle.

2. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step is generally flat.

3. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a support plate fixedly attached to said L-shaped supports for mounting of said step.

4. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pair of L-shaped supports comprise two planar L-shaped members.

5. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cooperating engagement holes in said L-shaped supports and said tab and at least one fastener therethrough and coupling the step assembly to the side bar.

6. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein said L-shaped supports are mountable to the tab extended from said bar at any one of the plurality of discrete mounting positions.

7. An apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical side bar adapted for horizontal attachment to a vehicle wherein said bar is fixedly attached to a side of the vehicle and extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

b. a pair of generally L-shaped planar supports movably attached to said side bar for generally vertical movement relative to said bar;

c. a generally flat plate fixedly attached to said L-shaped supports; and

d. a step fixedly attached to said plate;

wherein said L-shaped supports, said plate and said step are-variably attached to said side bar at one of a plurality of mounting locations via a planar tab mounted to said side bar and extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and which move as an assembly between said mounting locations in a generally diagonal axial direction relative to said vehicle, wherein said L-shaped supports are not engaged directly to said vehicle.

8. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 further comprising mating engagement holes in said plate with fasteners therethrough.

9. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 further comprising scoring on said step.

10. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a non-skid surface on said step.

11. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 wherein said L-shaped supports are mountable to the tab at any of the plurality of mounting locations.

12. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of holes on said L-shaped supports for insertion of fasteners to engage said tab.

13. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pair of L-shaped supports comprises two L-shaped arms having a first generally vertical portion and a second generally horizontal portion and said horizontal portion angles outward relative to an axis of said first vertical portion on each arm.

14. An apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical side bar adapted for horizontal attachment to a vehicle wherein said bar is fixedly attached to a side of the vehicle parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

b. a support and step assembly comprising a pair of planar L-shaped members for variable engagement to said side bar via a planar tab mounted to said side bar and extending perpendicular to said side bar, said variable engagement including a plurality of engagement positions aligned with an axis of said L-shaped members, and the variable engagement providing generally vertical variable positions for the assembly relative to said vehicle without additional support of said L-shaped support and step assembly from said vehicle;

c. said support and step assembly comprised of two vertical extensions with a plurality of engagement holes for stable engagement to said tab; and

d. a step fixedly mounted to said vertical extensions.

15. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a bracket for engaging said side bar to said vehicle.

16. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 14 wherein the planar tab has a plurality of holes receiving fasteners for fixedly attaching said support and step assembly.

17. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 14 wherein said pair of L-shaped arms have a first upper generally vertical portion and a second generally horizontal portion.

18. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 17 wherein said generally horizontal portion angles outward relative to said first vertical portion.

19. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 14 wherein said pair of L-shaped arms form a Y-shape.

20. The apparatus for assisting entry into vehicles as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a non-skid surface on said step.