Modular rail and step system
A modular side rail and removable step system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one aspect, the kit includes first, second, and third removable steps that may be mounted to the side rail. In one aspect, the side rail main body has a channel-shape defining a longitudinal opening between an adjacent first side and an adjacent second side. A plurality of step attachment arrangements may be provided on the first side of the side rail main body to allow the first, second, and third steps to be mounted to the side rail main body in various configurations. For example the plurality of step attachment arrangements may be arranged and configured to provide attachment locations for mounting the first and third removable steps in a first step assembly configuration and for mounting the second removable step in a second step assembly configuration.
1. A configurable rail and step system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a side rail main body extending longitudinally from a forward end to a rearward end and configured to extend at least partially along a length of a vehicle, the side rail main body comprising a lower member having a plurality of step attachment arrangements distributed along a length of the lower member;
a removable step comprising a step portion, a first arm extending upward from a forward end of the step portion, and a second arm extending upward from a rearward end of the step portion, wherein the first arm comprises a first mounting plate and the second arm comprises a second mounting plate; and
one or more pinch plates sized to be positionable within a cavity of the side rail main body and to sandwich the lower member of the side rail main body between the one or more pinch plates and the first and second mounting plates of the removable step.
2. The configurable rail and step system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pinch plates comprises a first pinch plate sized to sandwich the lower member of the side rail main body between the first pinch plate and the first mounting plate of the removable step; and a second pinch plate sized to sandwich the lower member of the side rail main body between the second pinch plate and the second mounting plate of the removable step.
3. The configurable rail and step system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pinch plates each comprises a plurality of threaded members.
4. The configurable rail and step system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of threaded members each comprises a threaded nut welded to a portion of the pinch plate.
5. The configurable rail and step system of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners each configured to pass through an aperture in the first or second mounting plate of the removable step and an aperture in one of the plurality of step attachment arrangements, and to engage one of the plurality of threaded members.
6. The configurable rail and step system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm comprises a channel-shape, with the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate formed by an upper portion of the channel-shape.
7. The configurable rail and step system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm comprises a support bar with the first or second mounting plate attached to an upper end of the support bar, and wherein each of the first and second mounting plates comprises a channel-shape.
8. The configurable rail and step system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second removable step comprising a step portion, a first arm extending upward from a forward end of the step portion, and a second arm extending upward from a rearward end of the step portion, wherein the first arm comprises a first mounting plate and the second arm comprises a second mounting plate; and
one or more additional pinch plates sized to be positionable within the cavity of the side rail main body and to sandwich the lower member of the side rail main body between the one or more additional pinch plates and the first and second mounting plates of the second removable step.
9. A configurable rail and step system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a side rail main body extending longitudinally from a forward end to a rearward end and configured to extend at least partially along a length of a vehicle, the side rail main body comprising a plurality of sides that that form a structure at least partially enclosing a cavity that extends in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the plurality of sides of the side rail main body comprises a first side having a plurality of step attachment arrangements distributed along a length of the first side;
a removable step extending from a first end to a second end, the removable step comprising a step portion, a first mounting portion at the first end, and a second mounting portion at the second end;
one or more pinch plates sized to be positionable within the cavity of the side rail main body; and
a plurality of fasteners for removably coupling the removable step to the side rail main body, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is configured to pass through an aperture of the first or second mounting portion, an aperture of one of the plurality of step attachment arrangements, and an aperture of one of the one or more pinch plates, to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the first and second mounting portions and the one or more pinch plates.
10. The configurable rail and step system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pinch plates comprises a first pinch plate sized to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the first pinch plate and the first mounting portion of the removable step; and a second pinch plate sized to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the second pinch plate and the second mounting portion of the removable step.
11. The configurable rail and step system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pinch plates each comprises a plurality of threaded members.
12. The configurable rail and step system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of threaded members each comprises a threaded nut welded to a portion of the pinch plate.
13. The configurable rail and step system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second mounting portions of the removable step comprises a shape that comprises a middle region positioned to be clamped against the first side of the side rail main body, a first end wall that extends downward from the middle region and extends along a lateral direction, and a second end wall that extends downward from the middle region and extends along the lateral direction.
14. The configurable rail and step system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second removable step extending from a first end to a second end, the second removable step comprising a step portion, a first mounting portion at the first end, and a second mounting portion at the second end; and
one or more additional pinch plates sized to be positionable within the cavity of the side rail main body and to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the one or more additional pinch plates and the first and second mounting portions of the second removable step.
15. A configurable rail and step system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a side rail main body extending longitudinally from a forward end to a rearward end and configured to extend at least partially along a length of a vehicle, the side rail main body comprising a plurality of sides that that form a structure at least partially enclosing a cavity that extends in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the plurality of sides of the side rail main body comprises a first side having a plurality of apertures passing therethrough;
a removable step extending from a first end to a second end, the removable step comprising a step portion, a first mounting portion at the first end, and a second mounting portion at the second end;
one or more pinch plates sized to be positionable within the cavity of the side rail main body, wherein the one or more pinch plates each comprises a plurality of threaded members; and
a plurality of fasteners for removably coupling the removable step to the side rail main body, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is configured to pass through an aperture of the first or second mounting portions, an aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first side of the side rail main body, and one of the plurality of threaded members of the one or more pinch plates, to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the first and second mounting portions and the one or more pinch plates.
16. The configurable rail and step system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of threaded members each comprises a nut welded to a portion of one of the one or more pinch plates.
17. The configurable rail and step system of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second mounting portions of the removable step comprises a channel-shape.
18. The configurable rail and step system of claim 17 , wherein the channel-shape comprises a middle region positioned to be clamped against the first side of the side rail main body, a first end wall that extends downward from the middle region and extends along a lateral direction, and a second end wall that extends downward from the middle region and extends along the lateral direction.
19. The configurable rail and step system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more pinch plates comprises a first pinch plate sized to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the first pinch plate and the first mounting portion of the removable step; and a second pinch plate sized to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the second pinch plate and the second mounting portion of the removable step.
20. The configurable rail and step system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second removable step extending from a first end to a second end, the second removable step comprising a step portion, a first mounting portion at the first end, and a second mounting portion at the second end; and
one or more additional pinch plates sized to be positionable within the cavity of the side rail main body and to clamp the first side of the side rail main body between the one or more additional pinch plates and the first and second mounting portions of the second removable step.