Patent ID: 7007961
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A retractable vehicle step assist, comprising: a first unitary support arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a first thickness, said first arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a first width, said first width being substantially greater than said first thickness; a second unitary support arm defining an inboard surface and an outboard surface, a maximum distance between said inboard surface and said outboard surface defining a second thickness, said second arm defining a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side, a maximum distance between said first side and said second side defining a second width, said second width being substantially greater than said second thickness; 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; a static stop member located within a range of motion of one of said first support arm and said second support arm; and a step member having a support bracket and a stepping deck rigidly connected to said support bracket, said stepping deck having an upper surface, said first support arm and said second support arm connected to said support bracket opposite said stepping deck 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 fourth axis located inboard from said third axis; wherein said first axis is spaced from said third axis by a first distance, said second axis is spaced from said fourth axis by a second distance, said first axis is spaced from said second axis by a third distance, and said third axis is spaced from said fourth axis by a fourth distance, as said step assist is viewed in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, and said third distance and said fourth distance are unequal; said first support arm and said second support arm allowing said step member and said stepping deck to move between a retracted position and a deployed position downward and outboard from said retracted position; wherein, when said step member is in said deployed position, said support bracket extends inboard and upward from said stepping deck and said upper surface of said stepping deck is the uppermost portion of said step member outboard of said support bracket; wherein the entirety of said stepping deck is located outboard of said first axis when said step member is in said deployed position and at least a portion of said stepping deck is located inboard of said second axis when said step member is in said retracted position; wherein said static stop member, said first support arm, said second support arm and said step member are sufficient to maintain said stepping deck in said deployed position when a user steps onto said stepping deck.