Retractable vehicle step
View Patent ↗A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The second arm also has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member.
1. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
said first support arm and said second support arm connectable with respect to an underside of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first axis oriented generally parallel to the ground and a second axis oriented generally parallel to the ground, respectively; and
a step member having an upper stepping surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said step member so that said first support arm and said second support arm are pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis and a fourth axis, respectively, said second axis located inboard from said first axis;
said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first axis and said third axis define a first line and said second axis and said fourth axis define a second line, said first line and said second line being non-parallel;
wherein, when said step member is in said retracted position, said first and second lines intersect at point spaced outboard of said arms; and
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first arm and said second arm initially move downward as said step member moves from the deployed position to the retracted position.
2. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein deployed position is downward and outboard from said retracted position.
3. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein the entirety of said upper stepping surface is located outboard of said first axis when said step member is in said deployed position and at least a portion of said upper stepping surface is located inboard of said second axis when said step member is in said retracted position.
4. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said first axis is spaced from said third axis by a first distance, and said second axis is spaced from said fourth axis by a second distance, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, and said first distance and said second distance are unequal.
5. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 4 , wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance.
6. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said step member defines a plane for supporting at least a forefoot, said plane takes on a first orientation when said step member is in said deployed position and a second orientation when said step member is in said retracted position, said second orientation being inclined with respect to said first orientation.
7. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 6 , wherein said upper stepping surface has an inboard end and an outboard end, and said outboard end is located upward from said inboard end when said plane is in said second orientation.
8. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , further comprising a static stop member located within a range of motion of one of said first support arm and said second support arm, wherein said static stop member, said first support arm, said second support arm and said step member are sufficient to maintain said upper stepping surface in said deployed position when a user steps onto said upper stepping surface.
9. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said first support arm extends outboard and downward from said first axis of rotation and said second support arm extends outboard and downward from said second axis of rotation when said step member is in said deployed position.
10. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said step member further comprises a support bracket connected to and extending upward and inboard from said upper stepping surface when said step member is in said deployed position, said first and second support arms being rotatably connected to said step member at said support bracket.
11. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said first support arm and said second support arm are of unequal lengths.
12. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 11 , wherein said first support arm is longer than said second support arm.
13. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said fourth axis is positioned above and inboard said third axis in said deployed position.
14. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said first support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
15. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 1 , wherein said second support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
16. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
said first support arm and said second support arm connectable with respect to an underside of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first axis oriented generally parallel to the ground and a second axis oriented generally parallel to the ground, respectively; and
a step member having an upper stepping surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said step member so that said first support arm and said second support arm are pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis and a fourth axis, respectively, said second axis located inboard from said first axis;
said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first axis and said third axis define a first line and said second axis and said fourth axis define a second line, said first line and said second line being non-parallel;
wherein, when said step member is in said retracted position, said first and second lines intersect at point spaced outboard of said arms; and
wherein the entirety of said upper stepping surface is located outboard of said first axis when said step member is in said deployed position and at least a portion of said upper stepping surface is located inboard of said second axis when said step member is in said retracted position.
17. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 16 , wherein said first axis is spaced from said third axis by a first distance, and said second axis is spaced from said fourth axis by a second distance, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, and said first distance is greater than said second distance.
18. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 16 , wherein said upper stepping surface has an inboard end and an outboard end, and said outboard end is located upward from said inboard end when said step member is in said retracted position.
19. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 16 , wherein said first support arm is longer than said second support arm.
20. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 16 , wherein said first support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
21. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 16 , wherein said second support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
22. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
said first support arm and said second support arm connectable with respect to an underside of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first axis oriented generally parallel to the ground and a second axis oriented generally parallel to the ground, respectively; and
a step member having an upper stepping surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said step member so that said first support arm and said second support arm are pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis and a fourth axis, respectively, said second axis located inboard from said first axis;
said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first axis and said third axis define a first line and said second axis and said fourth axis define a second line, said first line and said second line being non-parallel;
wherein, when said step member is in said retracted position, said first and second lines intersect at point spaced outboard of said arms; and
wherein said first axis is spaced from said third axis by a first distance, and said second axis is spaced from said fourth axis by a second distance, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, and said first distance is greater than said second distance.
23. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 22 , wherein said upper stepping surface has an inboard end and an outboard end, and said outboard end is located upward from said inboard end when said step member is in said retracted position.
24. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 22 , wherein said first arm is longer than said second arm.
25. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 22 , wherein said first support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
26. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 22 , wherein said second support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
27. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
said first support arm and said second support arm connectable with respect to an underside of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first axis oriented generally parallel to the ground and a second axis oriented generally parallel to the ground, respectively; and
a step member having an upper stepping surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said step member so that said first support arm and said second support arm are pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis and a fourth axis, respectively, said second axis located inboard from said first axis;
said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first axis and said third axis define a first line and said second axis and said fourth axis define a second line, said first line and said second line being non-parallel;
wherein, when said step member is in said retracted position, said first and second lines intersect at point spaced outboard of said arms; and
wherein said step member defines a plane for supporting at least a forefoot and said upper stepping surface has an inboard end and an outboard end, said plane takes on a first orientation when said step member is in said deployed position and a second orientation when said step member is in said retracted position, said second orientation being inclined with respect to said first orientation such that said outboard end is located upward from said inboard end when said plane is in said second orientation.
28. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 27 , wherein said first arm is longer than said second arm.
29. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 27 , wherein said first support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
30. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 27 , wherein said second support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
31. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising:
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
said first support arm and said second support arm connectable with respect to an underside of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first axis oriented generally parallel to the ground and a second axis oriented generally parallel to the ground, respectively; and
a step member having an upper stepping surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said step member so that said first support arm and said second support arm are pivotable with respect to said step member about a third axis and a fourth axis, respectively, said second axis located inboard from said first axis;
said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member to move between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said first axis and said third axis define a first line and said second axis and said fourth axis define a second line, said first line and said second line being non-parallel;
wherein, when said step member is in said retracted position, said first and second lines intersect at point spaced outboard of said arms; and
wherein said first arm is longer than said second arm.
32. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 31 , wherein said first support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.
33. The retractable vehicle step assist of claim 31 , wherein said second support arm comprises a generally planar linkage.