Accessory steps for vehicle closure members

1 . An accessory step for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a step portion; and

a hook portion connected to the step portion,

wherein the hook portion is configured to engage a hinge bracket of a hinge assembly of a closure member system of a stationary motor vehicle such that a first hook section of the hook portion interfaces with an exterior surface of the hinge bracket, a second hook section of the hook portion interfaces with an interior surface of the hinge bracket, and a bridge section of the hook portion interfaces with an upper surface of the hinge bracket.

2 . The accessory step as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hook portion is connected to the step portion by at least one weld.

3 . The accessory step as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hook portion is configured to hook onto the hinge bracket of the hinge assembly.

4 . The accessory step as recited in claim 3 , wherein the hook portion is received within a recess of the interior surface of the hinge bracket.

5 . The accessory step as recited in claim 4 , wherein the recess extends between a first mounting pad and a second mounting pad of the interior surface of the hinge bracket.

6 . An accessory step for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a step portion; and

a hook portion connected to the step portion,

wherein the hook portion is configured to engage a hinge assembly of a closure member system of a stationary motor vehicle,

wherein the hook portion is configured to hook onto a hinge bracket of the hinge assembly,

wherein the hook portion is received within a recess of an interior surface of the hinge bracket,

wherein the recess extends between a first mounting pad and a second mounting pad of the interior surface of the hinge bracket, and

wherein the hook portion includes a cut-out sized to accommodate the first mounting pad or the second mounting pad.

7 . The accessory step as recited in claim 3 , wherein the hinge bracket is a door-side hinge bracket of the hinge assembly.

8 . The accessory step as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hook portion is configured to engage the hinge assembly without using fasteners.

9 . The accessory step as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step portion includes an upper surface that is configured to provide a step surface.

10 . The accessory step as recited in claim 9 , wherein the upper surface includes a plurality of ridges and valleys.

11 . The accessory step as recited in claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of the first hook section, the second hook section, and the bridge section includes a protective lining.

12 . A vehicle closure member system, comprising:

a closure member;

a first hinge assembly including a door-side hinge bracket mounted to the closure member; and

an accessory step sized to hook onto the door-side hinge bracket without using fasteners.

13 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the closure member is a rear swing gate.

14 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first hinge assembly further includes a body-side hinge bracket mounted to a vehicle body.

15 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the accessory step includes a step portion and a hook portion connected to the step portion.

16 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the hook portion is configured to directly engage the door-side hinge bracket of the first hinge assembly.

17 . A method for providing an accessory step on a stationary motor vehicle, comprising:

hooking an accessory step onto a hinge bracket of a closure member system of the stationary motor vehicle so that a hook section of the accessory step is received between an exterior surface of a closure member of the closure member system and an interior surface of the hinge bracket.

18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the hook section is configured to receive a mounting pad of the interior surface of the hinge bracket.

19 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 12 , wherein a first hook section of the accessory step interfaces with an exterior surface of the door-side hinge bracket, a second hook section of the accessory step interfaces with an interior surface of the door-side hinge bracket, and a bridge section of the accessory step interfaces with an upper surface of the door-side hinge bracket.

20 . The vehicle closure member system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the door-side hinge bracket is an exposed, Class A hinge bracket that is visible when the closure member is closed.