Patent ID: 11858596
Assignee: THE NEW SEALIFT, LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A retractable step system for a boat, comprising:
a main frame having a first side member and a second side member;
a linkage movably coupled to the main frame, the linkage including a bell crank assembly having a torque member, a first bell crank linkage arm extending from the torque member and a second bell crank linkage arm extending from the torque member and a bell crank extending from the torque member, the torque member rotatably mounted between the first side member and the second side member, the linkage including at least one of a first supplemental linkage arm mounted to the main frame and a second supplemental linkage arm mounted to the main frame;
a plurality of step assemblies coupled to the linkage, each step assembly including a first step bracket operatively coupled to the first bell crank linkage arm and the first supplemental linkage arm and a second step bracket operatively coupled to the second bell crank linkage arm and the second supplemental linkage arm, each step assembly further including a step extending between and supported by the first step bracket and the second step bracket; and
an actuator connected between the main frame and the bell crank, whereby operation of the actuator rotates the bell crank assembly relative to the main frame and moves the linkage between a retracted position in which the steps and the linkage are disposed beneath the main frame and an extended position in which the steps and at least a portion of the linkage is disposed outwardly from beneath the main frame.