Patent ID: 6938909
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
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 support bracket and a stepping deck rigidly connected to said support bracket, 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; 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; said first and second arms having a bent configuration such that said arms can rotate about said first and second axes to a point at which a line connecting the first and third axes intersects a portion of the second arm near the second axis.