Patent ID: 6533303
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A step assembly for use with a vehicle, said assembly comprising;a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, a platform pivotally secured to said mounting bracket for rotation between a stowed position and am operative position, a biasing device mounted between said bracket and said platform for biasing said platform towards said stowed position, and a ratchet mechanism mounted between said bracket and said platform, said ratchet mechanism locking said platform in said operative position in response to rotation of said platform from said stowed position to said operative position and unlocking said platform in response to over rotation of said platform beyond said operative position and thereafter allowing said platform to counter rotate back to said stowed position, characterized by said platform having a pair of J-shaped arms pivotally secured to said bracket at a tip of each of the J-shaped arms, a handle pivotally mounted to said platform and manually movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, and a handle spring biasing said handle toward said retracted position, said handle extending in a direction opposite said platform when said handle is in said retracted handle position, and said handle extending in a same general direction as said platform when said handle is in said deployed position.