Abstract:
The present disclosure is a truck bed step that has a mounting device secured to an inside wall of a tailgate. The truck bed step further has at least one collapsible step hingedly coupled to the mounting device that hingedly collapses and attaches to the mounting device while not in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Trucks often comprise an open truck bed that is accessible through a tailgate. The truck bed can be used to haul freight. However, in order to make full use of the entire truck bed, it is often that one jumps into the truck bed to place freight in the depths of the truck bed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Generally, the present invention provides a truck bed step and method. In particular, a truck bed step in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure mounts to a tailgate of a truck bed and collapses when not in use while still coupled to the tailgate. 
         [0003]    A truck bed step in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a mounting device secured to an inside wall of a tailgate and to the at least on collapsible step. In addition, the truck bed step comprises at least one collapsible step hingedly coupled to the mounting device that hingedly collapses and attaches to the mounting device while not in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an expanded truck bed step in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of portion of an exemplary handrail of the expanded truck bed step as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view a vertical member of the exemplary handrail of the expanded truck bed step as depicted in  FIG. 2  after it is removed from a receptacle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view the vertical member as depicted in  FIG. 3  after removal as it is rotated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view the vertical member after it is coupled to an exemplary angled member of the handrail of the truck bed step as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a coupler of the vertical member depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a coupler of the angled member depicted in  FIG. 5   
           [0012]      FIG. 8  depicts the vertical members and the angled member of the handrail of the truck bed step depicted in  FIG. 1  after the members have been contracted. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view depicting rotation of the vertical members and the angled member as depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a coupler and one of the vertical members of the handrail depicted in  FIG. 1  illustrating a tube within the vertical member and the coupler that enables the vertical members and the angled member to rotate. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a top cross-sectional view of the vertical member depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a side plan view of the vertical member depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a step of the truck bed step depicted in  FIG. 1  being rotated. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the step of  FIG. 13  after it is fully rotated. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the step of the truck bed step depicted in  FIG. 13  being rotated a second time. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the step in  FIG. 15  after it is completely rotated. 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the steps after the steps have been rotated as depicted in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the steps of  FIG. 17  as they are rotated toward a mounting plate as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the truck bed step of  FIG. 1  after the steps are completely contracted. 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view depicting the handrail of  FIG. 1  as it is contracted. 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view depicting the handrail of  FIG. 20  after it is fully contracted. 
           [0026]      FIG. 22  is a side perspective view depicting the truck bed step of  FIG. 1  in a completely contracted state. 
           [0027]      FIG. 23  is a top perspective view depicting the truck bed step of  FIG. 1  in a completely contracted state. 
           [0028]      FIG. 24  is a top plan view of depicting the truck bed step of  FIG. 1  in a contracted state and a tailgate to which the truck bed step is attached is closed. 
           [0029]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a mounting plate and a horizontal member of the truck bed step of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 26  is a side plan view of the truck bed step in a contracted state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  depicts a truck bed step  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The truck bed step  100  comprises one or more steps  101  and  102 , a mounting plate  111 , and a hand rail  114 . 
         [0032]    The truck bed step  100  is mounted to a tailgate  119  of a truck bed  118 . During use, the truck bed step  100  expands, which is depicted in  FIG. 1 . However, when the truck bed step  100  is not in use, the truck bed step  100  is manually contracted. Further, the truck bed step  100  remains mounted to the tailgate  119  while the truck bed step  100  is contracted and not in use, which is depicted and described further herein. 
         [0033]    Step  101  is fixedly coupled to horizontal arms  103  and  104 . The horizontal arms  103  and  104  are pivotally coupled to vertical members  105  and  106 , respectively. The vertical members  105  and  106  are pivotally coupled to horizontal members  107  and  108 , respectively, and step  102  is fixedly coupled to the horizontal members  107  and  108 . 
         [0034]    The horizontal members  107  and  108  are pivotally coupled to vertical members  109  and  110 , respectively, and the vertical members  109  and  110  are pivotally coupled to horizontal members  112  and  113 , respectively. The horizontal members  112  and  113  are slidably coupled to the mounting plate  111 , and the mounting plate  111  is fixedly coupled to the tailgate  119  of the truck bed  118 . Attachment of the mounting plate  111  to the horizontal members  107  and  108  is further described herein with reference to  FIG. 25 . 
         [0035]    The railing  114  comprises two vertical members  115  and  117  and one substantially angled member  116 . The vertical member  115  is detachably coupled to horizontal member  103 , which is described further with reference to  FIG. 2 . Further, the vertical member  115  is pivotally coupled to the angled member  116 . The vertical member  117  is rotatably coupled to horizontal member  112 , which is described further with reference to  FIG. 20 . Further, the vertical member  117  is pivotally coupled to the substantially angled member  116 . 
         [0036]    The truck bed step  100  is depicted in  FIG. 1  in an expanded state. The term “expanded” in the present disclosure refers to a state of the truck bed step  100  when the truck bed step  100  may be used to ascend into the truck bed  118 . When the truck bed step  100  is expanded, a user can step up into the truck bed  118  by stepping on the steps  101  and  102  using the railing  114  for balance. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the vertical member  115  detachably coupled to a receptacle  200 . In one embodiment, the receptacle  200  is integral and contiguous with the horizontal member  103  and the step  101 . Notably, the receptacle  200  can be welded to the horizontal member  103  and/or the step  101 . The receptacle  200  has an opening  202  that receives a depressible protrusion  201  located on the vertical member  115 . 
         [0038]    To begin contracting the truck bed step  100 , a user (not shown) dislodges the vertical member  115  from the receptacle  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . To dislodge the vertical member  115 , the user depresses the depressible protrusion  201  and exerts a force on the vertical member  115  in a y direction thereby lifting the vertical member  115  from the receptacle  200 . 
         [0039]    The cross-sectional view of the vertical member  115  depicts the protrusion  201  attached to a metal spring  380 . For example, the metal spring  380  may be comprised of a flexible metal material. When force is applied to the protrusion  201 , it moves in the x direction thereby dislodging from the opening  202  so that the vertical member  115  can be lifted in the y direction and removed from the receptacle  200 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates the vertical member  115  once it has been dislodged from the receptacle  200 . Once the vertical member  115  is dislodged from the receptacle, the user (not shown) rotates the vertical member  115  about a pivot point  300  between the vertical member  115  and the substantially angled member  116  in a direction notated by reference arrow  301 . 
         [0041]    The vertical member  114  comprises an H-shaped coupler  401 . When it is fully rotated in the direction indicated by reference arrow  301 , the angled member  116  snugly fits within and is retained by the H-shaped coupler  401 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  depicts the vertical member  115  once the vertical member  115  has been fully rotated. Once the vertical member  115  is fully rotated, it is substantially parallel with the angled member  116 . The angled member  116  fits within the H-shaped coupler  401  such that the vertical member  115  is retained substantially parallel with the angled member  116 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the H-shaped coupler  401 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the user rotates the member  115  until the angled member  116  fits within the H-shaped coupler  401  indicated by the dotted line vertical member  115 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , once the vertical member  115  is coupled to the angled member  116  via the H-shaped coupler  401 , the user rotates the vertical member  115  and the angled member  116  about a pivot point  403  between the angled member  116  and the vertical member  117 . The user rotates in a direction notated by reference arrow  400  and in the z direction. Once rotated fully, the vertical member  115  and the angled member  116  are substantially parallel with the vertical member  117 , which is shown with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0045]    As shown with reference to  FIG. 7 , the vertical member  117  comprises the H-shaped coupler  402 . The angled member  116  fits within and is retained by the H-shaped coupler  402 . Note that H-shaped couplers  401  and  402  couple the members  115 - 117  such that they are substantially parallel to one another; however, other coupling devices may be used in other embodiments. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  depicts the railing  114  after each of the members  115 - 117  have been disassembled and coupled together via the couplers  401  ( FIG. 7) and 402  ( FIG. 7 ). The members  115 - 117  are in parallel with one another and are each vertically positioned parallel and upright in the y direction.  FIG. 8  depicts the members  115 - 117  prior to their rotation about an axis  802  in a direction indicated by arrow  801 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  depicts a coupler  900  that is attached to the horizontal member  112 . Note that the coupler  900  is hingedly attached, via the hinge  901 , to the horizontal member  112  so that the members  115 - 117  can collapse when not in use, which is described further herein. 
         [0048]    The coupler  900  retains a square tubing  910 . The rectangular square tubing  910  is rotatably coupled to the vertical member  117  and the member  117  rotates about an intersection  905  between member  117  and the square tubing  910 . Thus, once the members  115 - 117  are in the position shown in  FIG. 8 , the user rotates members  115 - 117  in a direction indicated by reference arrow  801  about axis  802  so that the members  115 - 117  are positioned as shown with respect to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  depicts an exploded view of the member  117  and the square tubing  910 . The member  117  and the square tubing  910  are substantially hollow, and within the member  117  is a round tubing  1005  that extends through the member  117  and into the square tubing  910 , placement of the round tubing  1005  in the square tubing  910  is illustrated by the dotted lines within the member  117  and the square tubing  910 . The round tubing  1005  is coupled to the coupler  900  via a fastener (not shown) that extends through the opening  1000  in the square tubing  910  and the opening  1002  in the round tubing  1005 . Thus, the round tubing  1005  is fixedly attached to the coupler  900 . 
         [0050]    The round tubing  1005  further comprises a slot  1003 . In this regard, a fastener (shown with reference to  FIG. 12 ) is received by opening  1004  and the fastener fits within the slot  1003 . Thus, when the member  117  is rotated about the intersection  905  ( FIG. 9 ), the round tubing  1005  remains in place while the fastener moves within the slot  1003 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 11  depicts a cross-sectional view of the member  117 . In one embodiment, the slot  1003  is cut in at a ninety-degree angle, as depicted. A bolt  1101  fits through the opening  1004  and the slot  1003  such that the member  117  can rotate ninety degrees within the slot  1003 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  depicts a side plan view of the member  117 . The bolt  1101  retains the member  117  mounted while allowing a ninety degree rotation within the slot  1003 . Note that the round tubing  1005  may be comprised of a sturdy rubber type of material. The round tubing  1005  retains the member  117  and the square tubing  910  in a position relative to each other yet allows  117  rotate relative to the square tubing  910 . 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 13 , the user begins collapsing the truck bed step  100  by lifting step  101  in a direction indicated by reference arrow  1301 . Thus, the horizontal members  103  and  104  pivot about a pivot point  1302 . After the step  101  is fully rotated, the step  101  and the horizontal members  103  and  104  fit flush with or fit within the vertical members  105  and  106 , respectively, as shown with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
         [0054]    Note that  FIG. 13  illustrates a detailed depiction of the horizontal member  112 . The horizontal member  112  is pivotally attached to the vertical member  109 . Further,  FIG. 13  depicts the coupler  900  attached to the horizontal member  112  via the hinge  901 . 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 14 , the user rotates step  101 , including vertical member  105  and vertical member  106  in a direction indicated by reference arrow  1401 . In this regard, the vertical members  105  and  106  are pivotally connected to the horizontal members  107  and  108 , respectively, at a pivot point  1402 . When the user rotates the step  101 , the members  105  and  106  pivot about pivot point  1402 . 
         [0056]    Note that  FIG. 14  illustrates a detailed depiction of the horizontal member  107  pivotally connected to the vertical member  109 . Once the step  102  is collapsed, the horizontal member  107  rests within the angle of the vertical member  109  so that the horizontal member  107  is flush with the member  109 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 15  depicts the step  101  and the members  106  and  107  as the members  106  and  107  pivot about pivot point  1402  in the direction of reference arrow  1401  until the step  101  is fully collapsed, as shown in  FIG. 16 . When the step  101  is fully collapsed, the step  101  rests upon step  102  ( FIG. 12 ), and the vertical members  105  and  106  fit flush with or fit within the horizontal members  107  and  108 . 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIG. 17 , the user rotates steps  101  and  102 , including the horizontal members  107  and  108  in a direction indicated by reference arrow  1600 . In this regard, the horizontal members  107  and  108  are pivotally connected to the vertical members  109  and  110 , respectively. When the user rotates the steps  101  and  102  in the direction of reference arrow  1600 , the members  107  and  108  pivot about pivot point  1602  until the steps  101  and  102  rest flush with or within vertical members  109  and  110 , as depicted in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIG. 18 , the user rotates steps  101  ( FIG. 16) and 102 , including the vertical members  109  and  110 , in a direction notated by reference arrow  1800 . In this regard, the user rotates steps  101  and  102  until they rest flush with or within horizontal members  112  and  113 , as depicted in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 19 , the member  113  comprises a protrusion  2652 . As will be discussed further herein, an opening  2653  receives the protrusion  2652  when the members  115 - 117  are rotated about the hinge  901  ( FIG. 13 ) to the collapsed state. The protrusion  2652  is retained by a spring (not shown) within the opening  2653 , which is described further with reference to  FIG. 26 . 
         [0061]    With reference to  FIG. 20 , once the steps  101  ( FIG. 1) and 102  ( FIG. 1 ) are collapsed the members  115 - 117  of the handrail  114  are rotated in a direction notated by reference arrow  2101  about the hinge  901 . In this regard, the coupler  900  that mounts the vertical member  117  to the horizontal member  112  comprises an opening  2102  that retains a depressible protrusion  2103  that when depressed releases the members  115 - 117  so that they can be rotated to a completely contracted position. Note that “completely contracted” with reference to the members  115 - 117  refers to a position of the members  115 - 117  such that they are adjacent and parallel the contracted steps  101  and  102 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 21  depicts the members  115 - 117  of the handrail  114  in one embodiment of the present disclosure. When the members  115 - 117  are completely collapsed, the members  115 - 117  are adjacent the horizontal member  112  on the mounting plate  111 . Once collapsed, the protrusion  2103  of the coupler  900  fits within opening  2120  as opposed to  2102 , as shown. 
         [0063]    Again with reference to  FIG. 20 , the members  115 - 117  are retained when in a collapsed state. Notably, the protrusion  2652  fits within and is retained by the opening  2653  ( FIG. 19 ). Further, an L-shaped vibration damper hook  2654  receives the member  117 . The L-shaped vibration damper hook  2654  provides support for the members  115 - 117  in the y direction when the tailgate  119  is closed. In one embodiment, the hook  2654  is made of a rubber material so as to mitigate the effects of vibration during movement. 
         [0064]      FIG. 22  depicts a side view of the truck bed step  100  in its contracted state and a portion  2301  of the truck bed step  100  extends beyond the tailgate  119 . With reference to  FIG. 23 , and as noted herein with respect to  FIG. 1 , the horizontal members  112  and  113  are slidably mounted to the mounting plate  111 , which is described further herein. Thus, once the truck bed step  100  is contracted, the user applies pressure to the horizontal members  112  and  113  in the direction indicated by reference arrow  2251 , and the truck bed step  100  slides such that the portion  2301  ( FIG. 22 ) no longer extends beyond the tailgate  119 . This allows the truck bed  118  and the tailgate  119  to be used in a normal manner without the truck bed step  100  getting in the way, such as is further depicted in  FIG. 24 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 24  is a plan view of the truck bed step  100  showing the members  115 - 117  and the steps  101  and  102  in their fully contracted states. Further,  FIG. 24  shows the truck bed step  100  after the members  112  and  113  have been pushed so as to remove any over hang from the tail gate  119 . Further, the member  117  rests upon the hook  2654  to mitigate movement of the truck bed step  100  caused from vibrations. 
         [0066]      FIG. 25  depicts an exploded view of the mounting plate  111  and one of the horizontal members, horizontal member  113 . Note that horizontal member  112  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted in a similar fashion as horizontal member  113 . In this regard, the members  112  and  113  are both slidably mounted to the mounting plate  111 . 
         [0067]    The mounting plate  111  is preferably bolted to the tailgate  119  ( FIG. 1 ) via one or more bolts (not shown) inserted into a plurality of openings  2621 . Further, the mounting plate  111  comprises a plurality of openings  2601 - 2606 . Additionally, a portion of the mounting plate  111 , including portions  2698  and  2699 , is covered with a Teflon™ coating. 
         [0068]    The horizontal member  113  comprises a substantially vertical member  2607  that is perpendicular to a substantially horizontal member  2608 , thereby forming the L-shaped horizontal member  113 . 
         [0069]    The horizontal member  2608  comprises one or more slots  2609  and  2610 . One or more mounting bolts  2611 - 2613  fit within one or more respective Teflon™ washers  2614 - 2616  and the slots  2609  and  2610 . The mounting bolts  2611 - 2613  are retained by one or more plug nuts  2617 - 2619 . Therefore, as described hereinabove, once the truck bed steps  101  and  102  are completely contracted, the truck bed step  100  can be slid in a direction indicated by reference arrow  2620 , so that the truck bed step  100  does not interfere with the normal use of the tailgate  119  and/or the truck bed  118 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 26  is a side plan view of the truck bed step  100  showing the protrusion  2652 . The protrusion  2652  is mounted to the member  110 . In addition, the protrusion  2652  fits within the opening  2653  in the member  117  when the truck bed step  100  is collapsed.