Patent ID: 7566064
Filing Date: 2009-07-28
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
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 a stepping deck for supporting at least a forefoot, an inboard end, and an outboard end, 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 said step member defines a plane configured to take 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 outboard end being located upward from said inboard end when said plane is in said second orientation; 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.