Hitch-mounted step for a vehicle and method therefor
View Patent ↗A hitch-mounted step for a vehicle that extends beyond a deployed fold-down tailgate of a vehicle and allows people and pets to more easily enter and exit the rear cargo area of a vehicle. The hitch-mounted step is easily stored and deployed without the need to remove the step from the receiver hitch.
1. A hitch-mounted step for a vehicle comprising, in combination:
a coupling arm having a receiver mounting end and a support arm coupling end, said receiver mounting end dimensioned to be inserted into a hitch receiver of a vehicle;
a support arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said support arm rotatably coupled to said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm so that said support arm being capable of rotating substantially vertically from said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm;
a step support platform coupled to said support arm, said step support platform dimensioned to substantially entirely extend beyond a deployed tailgate of a vehicle when said support arm being in a substantially horizontal position; and
a stabilizing leg having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said support arm and said second end dimensioned to contact a ground surface when said support arm being in a substantially horizontal position.
2. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said second end of said stabilizing leg being dimensioned to contact a ground surface at a greater horizontal distance from said deployed tailgate than a horizontal distance from said deployed tailgate to said second end of said support arm.
3. The hitch-mounted step of claim 2 wherein said stabilizing leg having a length of approximately 17 inches and a width of approximately 1 inch and a height of approximately 1 inch.
4. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 further comprising a crossbar coupled to said second end of said stabilizing leg.
5. The hitch-mounted step of claim 4 wherein said crossbar having a width of approximately 1 inch, a height of approximately 1 inch and a length of approximately 10 inches.
6. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said first end of said stabilizing leg being coupled to a bottom surface of said support arm proximate said second end of said support arm.
7. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said coupling arm having a length of approximately 15 inches from said receiver mounting end to said support arm coupling end.
8. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said support arm having a length of approximately 33 inches from said first end of said support arm to said second end of said support arm.
9. The hitch-mounted step of claim 8 wherein said step support platform being coupled to said support arm beginning approximately 13 inches from said first end of said support arm and extending towards said second end of said support arm.
10. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said step support platform having a length of approximately 20 inches and a width of approximately 15 inches.
11. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm being substantially L-shaped.
12. The hitch-mounted step of claim 11 wherein said support arm coupling end extending approximately 4 inches vertically from said support arm.
13. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said coupling arm having a width of approximately 2 inches and a height of approximately 2 inches.
14. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said support arm having a width of approximately 1½ inch and a height of approximately 2 inches.
15. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 wherein said coupling arm and said support arm and said step support platform being comprised of aluminum.
16. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 further comprising a first locking pin dimensioned to be inserted through an aperture defined by said receiver mounting end of said coupling arm to lock said coupling arm to said hitch receiver of said vehicle.
17. The hitch-mounted step of claim 1 further comprising a second locking pin dimensioned to be inserted through an aperture defined by said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm and through an aperture defined by said support arm to lock said support arm in a substantially vertical position.
18. A method for accessing a rear cargo area of a vehicle comprising, in combination, the steps of:
providing a coupling arm having a receiver mounting end and a support arm coupling end;
inserting said receiver mounting end into a hitch receiver of a vehicle;
providing a support arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said support arm rotatably coupled to said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm so that said support arm being capable of rotating substantially vertically from said support arm coupling end of said coupling arm;
providing a step support platform coupled to said support arm;
deploying said step support platform by extending said support arm to a position substantially parallel to a ground surface so that said step support platform extends substantially entirely beyond a deployed tailgate of a vehicle;
providing a stabilizing leg having a first end and a second end, said first end rotatably coupled to said support arm; and
deploying said stabilizing leg by extending said stabilizing leg away from said support arm so that said second end of said stabilizing leg being dimensioned to contact a ground surface when said support arm being in a substantially horizontal position.