Abstract:
Vehicle-mountable steps with platforms which have stowed and operational (deployed) positions. A latch mechanism positively locks the platform in the selected position. The step is designed for vehicles equipped with a ball-and-receiver type of trailer hitch and is coupled to the receiver of the hitch. The step is easily removed when the hitch is needed for towing but can otherwise be left on the vehicle as the platform of the step is located out-of-the-way beneath the vehicle when the platform is located in its stowed position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention related to novel, improved, vehicle-mountable steps having a platform that can be moved between deployed (operative) and stowed positions. 
     Currently important devices embodying the principles of the present invention have a bracket that fits in the receiver (socket) of a conventional ball-and-socket type trailer hitch. The principles of the present invention will be developed primarily with reference to that application of the invention. It is to be understood that this is being done for the sake of brevity and clarity and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicles such as many pickup trucks, vans, RVs, and SUVs have cargo beds located at a considerable height above ground level. This makes it difficult for many persons to climb into the vehicle and also difficult to lift many loads into the vehicle bed. For example, many persons have dogs which cannot jump into a truck or SUV bed, which can be 25-30 inches or more off the ground; and it can prove difficult to lift larger dogs (and other animals) to the necessary height. Even some large dogs such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers have some difficulty jumping into and out of these types of vehicles. Many smaller breeds can&#39;t get in or out at all. As animals age they become increasingly susceptible to arthritis in their hips and elbows. This aging process makes getting in and out of vehicles even more difficult. 
     Also, many activities involve the putting on and taking off of boots, waders or other articles of clothing. It is oftentimes difficult to put on or remove these items while sitting in a seat or on the back bumper of a vehicle. Consequently, there is a need for a device which will also provide a seat for persons engaged in the foregoing and other tasks. 
     Steps or platforms (and other devices) intended to solve this problem have been proposed. 
     A vehicle step which has the advantage that it can be rotated between operative and stowed positions so that it can be left on the vehicle while the vehicle is moving is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,362 issued Apr. 14, 1998. This step, however, has the drawback that the step itself, and associated structure, must be lifted and rotated to move it between operative and stowed positions. This can be cumbersome if the step is large or heavy. Furthermore, only a keeper held in place by gravity retains the step in the position to which it is rotated. In rough terrain, the keeper may bounce upwardly and allow the step to rotate out of the intended position, damaging the device and causing other problems. 
     Other products which have been tried but failed to meet the need addressed by the present invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: 
     Pet Step Ramp—This product is a plastic molded ramp that one can set on the bumper of a the vehicle to allow a dog to walk up or down into and out of the back of the vehicle. There are several problems with this product. One, there would have to be considerable room behind the vehicle to allow the product to be used. This space could be difficult to find in many urban parking situations. A second problem is where to stow the ramp when it is not being used. 
     Hitch Extender Step—This product does not extend as far back as the Pet Step Ramp but has the added problem of protruding beyond the bumper if left in place while driving. If it is removed and replaced between uses, the issue of storage becomes significant. Another problem is that the step is higher than may be useful since it is on the same level as the receiver of the hitch to which the device is mounted. 
     Receiver Hitch Stairs—This product has more problems in addition to the ones which make the Hitch Extender Step unsatisfactory. Perhaps the most serious is that the top step interferes with the back hatch of most vehicles, requiring it to be removed between uses. 
     Hitch Step—This product does not have the storage problems of the products above, but it is too small to effectively be used for the desired uses, such as sitting on to put on or take off boots, or to be used as a step by most dogs, or to be used to place objects on. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There has now been invented and disclosed herein a new and novel step which, like the step disclosed in the &#39;362 patent, is designed to be mounted to the vehicle associated receiver of a trailer hitch. And, like its previously patented counterpart, the hitch disclosed herein can be swung between functioning and stowed positions. The current step, however, has the advantage that it can be moved between these two positions without lifting the step and the components utilized to mount the step to a trailer hitch component. 
     The steps of the present invention have a platform to which a hollow, vertically extending column is fixed such that the platform and column rotate as a unit. A complementary sleeve surrounds the vertical column, and a beam dimensioned to fit into a trailer hitch receiver is attached at one end to the sleeve such that the sleeve is fixed against rotation relative to the sleeve. Also present in the step is a mechanism which can be unlocked by pressing down on an actuator component of the mechanism. This allows a platform component of the step to be rotated from a stowed position to its operational position and vice versa. When the platform reaches the position to which it is moved, the locking components of the latching mechanism automatically re-engage, retaining the platform in the stowed or deployed position to which it is moved. 
     With the step deployed to its operational configuration, the platform of the step is available for use in helping persons and animals into and out of the bed of a vehicle equipped with the step. Deployed, the platform can also be used as a seat and as a support for objects including those of a significant size and/or weight. 
     Ease of operation and simplicity are other important features of the present invention. 
     Also: 
     The platform of the step can be stowed out of the way until needed. 
     The platform is securely locked in place when stowed or deployed. 
     The step is sturdy enough for very large animals, persons, and other appreciable loads. 
     The step can be easily removed for replacement with the male (ball) component of a trailer hitch for towing. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of: (a) a vehicle equipped with a trailer hitch, and (b) a step which embodies the principles of the present invention and is mounted to the trailer hitch of the vehicle; in this figure the step is shown in a stowed configuration in which a platform of the step is locked in an out-of-the-way position beneath the rear end of the vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the platform of the step deployed to a position in which it is available for use as a step, seat, support, and the like; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the step shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; this view shows, among others, the components of a latching (or locking) mechanism which keeps the platform of the step in the position—stowed or deployed—to which a person moves the platform; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the step with the platform of the step in its stowed position; this view shows an actuator depressed to disengage the locking mechanism so that the platform can be displaced to its deployed position; depressing the same actuator when the platform is deployed similarly disengages the locking mechanism and allows the platform to be displaced to its stowed position; 
     FIG. 5 is a section through the step taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but looking at the side of the step in its stowed configuration with the actuator depressed to unlatch the locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 7 is a section through the step, taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the step in its deployed configuration; in this view the actuator is in a position which allows complementary components of the locking mechanism to engage and lock the platform of the step in its deployed position; 
     FIG. 9 is a section through the step taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 8 but looking at a side of the step; 
     FIG. 11 is a section through the step taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 10; 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views of an assembly which is a component of the FIGS. 1 and 2 step; the assembly includes the platform of the step, a platform-supporting framework of structural members; and a vertically-extending, tubular support housing (or cylinder) for other components of the step; 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the FIGS. 12 and 13 assembly; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the FIGS. 1 and 2 step: this figure shows in detail a protective platform cover omitted in FIGS. 12-14 in the interest of clarity; and 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective views of the step with the platform cover snapped in place. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle)  20  equipped with a conventional trailer hitch which includes a socket or receiver  22  (see FIG.  5 ). A step  24  having a stowable and deployable platform  26  and embodying the principles of the present invention is mounted to vehicle  20  by a beam component  28  of the step. Component  28  is installed in trailer hitch receiver  22  and retained in place by a conventional trailer hitch pin  30 . In the stowed configuration of step  24 , the platform  26  of the step is positioned out-of-the-way under the rear bumper  31  of vehicle  20  (see FIG.  1 ). In the deployed, functional configuration of the step, platform  26  extends rearwardly beyond bumper  31  and is available in assisting persons, animals, etc., to climb in and out of SUV  20  and to function as a seat and a support for objects. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-11, the stowable and deployable platform  26 , discussed above, and the mounting beam  28  by which the step is mounted to vehicle  20  are major components of step  24 . Other major components of the step, best shown in FIGS. 3,  5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 , include: a hollow, inner cylinder  32 ; a complementary, also hollow, outer cylinder (or sleeve)  34 ; a latch mechanism  36  for positively holding the platform  26  of step  24  in its stowed position (FIG. 1) and in its deployed position (FIG.  2 ); and an actuator  38  which, when depressed, allows platform  26  to be displaced from the FIG. 1 stowed position to the FIG. 2 deployed position and vice versa. 
     As shown in FIGS. 12-14, platform  26  has a support assembly  39  made up of front, rear, and side, channel-shaped girders  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  and a brace  50 , also of a channel-shaped configuration and extending from front girders  40  and  42  to rear girder  44 . Supported by, and fixed to the assembly  39  of girders  40  . . .  48  and brace  50  is a plate or deck  52 . 
     The inner column  32  of step  24  extends downwardly through an aperture  54  in deck  52  (FIG. 14) to a location between: (a) front girders  40  and  42 , and (b) brace  50  (FIG.  13 ). The lower end  55  of column  32  is fixed, as by welding, to the structural components  40 ,  42 , and  50 . 
     As suggested above, and is best shown in FIGS. 5,  7 ,  9  and  11 , step  24  also has an outer column  34  which surrounds the just-discussed inner column  32 . Outer column  34  is supported from inner column  32  by and between lower and upper, flanged fixtures  56  and  58  fixed in any convenient manner to the inner column. These fixtures provide for relative rotational movement between the inner and outer columns about axis  60  (see FIGS.  4 - 11 ). 
     As discussed above, a beam  28 , which can be slid into trailer hitch receiver  30 , couples step  24  to vehicle  20 . More particularly, beam  28  is fixed to, and extends normally from, vertically oriented, outer sleeve  34 . Thus, with the step installed, outer column  34  of the step is held against rotation, while lower and upper mounting flanges  56  and  58  keep inner column  32  and platform  26  from moving up and down with respect to outer column  34  and, consequentially, to vehicle  20 . At the same time, inner column  32  and platform  26  are free to rotate as a unit between the FIG. 1 stowed position of the platform and the FIG. 2 deployed position as shown by the double-headed arrow  62  in FIG.  5 . 
     That platform  26  remains in the same plane as it is moved between its stowed and deployed positions is a significant feature of the present invention. It distinguishes steps as disclosed herein from those disclosed in the &#39;362 patent. As discussed above, the patented step has the significant disadvantage that it must be lifted to displace the step to its stowed and deployed positions. 
     As discussed above, step  24  has a mechanism  36  for locking the platform  26  of the step in the FIG. 1 stowed position and in the FIG. 2 deployed position. This mechanism (see FIGS. 3,  5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 ) includes locking elements  64  and  66 , a cam component  68 , and a compression spring  70 . Blocking elements  64  and  66  are spheres or balls. These balls are disposed in complementary apertures  72  and  74  spaced 180° apart in the inner column  32  of step  22 . The locking elements are kept in those apertures by a tapered, element-engaging surface  76  of cam  68 . 
     Cam  68  is biased to the upper position of that component shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 by compression spring  70 . The lower end of that spring rests on a support pin  78  spanning inner column  32  and extending into apertures  80  and  82  on opposite sides of the inner column. An integral, dependent boss  84  of cam  68  surrounds the upper end  86  of compression spring  70  and keeps the spring in place in the hollow interior  88  of inner column  32 . 
     With platform  26  in its stowed or deployed positions, compression spring  70  is expanded as suggested by arrow  90  (see FIGS. 9 and 11) and biases cam  68  is to the “upper” position of that component shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. With cam  68  in this position, locking elements  64  and  66  are displaced outwardly by cam surface  76  (arrows  92  and  94  of FIG. 11) into equiangularly spaced apart apertures  96  and  98  formed in outer step column  34 . With the cam in the FIG. 11 position, locking elements  64  and  66  are consequently engaged both in inner column apertures  64  and  66  and in outer column apertures  96  and  98 . This locks outer column  34  of step  22  to inner column  32 , keeping these columns from rotating relative to each other and consequently keeping platform  26  in the position—stowed or deployed—to which the platform has been rotably displaced. 
     When one wishes to move the platform  26  of step  24  from its stowed position to its deployed position or vice versa, actuator  38  of the step is displaced downwardly as suggested by arrow  100  in FIGS. 9 and 11. Actuator  38  surrounds, and is slidable up and down on, the outer column  34  of step  24 . It is kept in place on the column as by screws  102  and  104  (FIG. 3) which fix a horizontal, integral element  106  of the cover to the upper end  108  of cam  68 . These fasteners are typically concealed by a snap-in cover plate such as the one identified by reference character  110  in FIG. 3 but otherwise omitted in the drawings in the interest of clarity. With actuator  38  depressed (see especially FIG.  7 ), a nipped in portion  112  of cam surface  76  is located opposite the apertures  96  and  98  in the outer column  34  of step  24 . This allows locking elements  64  and  66  to move out of the outer column apertures  96  and  98 , freeing inner column  32  and platform  26  for rotation between the stowed and deployed positions of the platform as suggested by above-described, double headed arrow  62 . 
     Once movement in an arrow  62  direction has been initiated, actuator  68  can be released. When this occurs, spring  70 , compressed by the downward, arrow  100  displacement of actuator  38  and cam  68  expands, biasing the cam upwardly so that locking elements  64  and  66  will pop into outer column apertures  96  and  98  when the new position is reached. This relocks outer column  34  to inner column  32  and keeps platform  26  in the new position with the locking elements  64  and  66  being so retained by virtue of cam  68  being returned to its upper, column-locking position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 by the biasing force exerted by the now free to expand compression spring  70 . 
     As cam  36  moves up and down in inner column  32 , it is guided by O-rings  114  and  115  at the lower and upper ends  116  and  108  of the cam. The travel of cam  68  is limited by a pin  118  which spans and is mounted in the upper end  108  of column  32  and extends through a vertically elongated slot in and near the upper end  108  of the cam. Also, when actuator  38  is depressed to shift platform  26  from one to the other of that components stowed and deployed positions, pin  118 , which rests on flanged fixture  58 , keeps outer column  34  from sliding up on inner column  32 . Platform  52 , which is spaced only slightly from platform deck  52 , keeps the outer column  34  from sliding down on inner column  32 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15-17, an optional but preferable component of the step  24  is a platform cover  130  which keeps the upper surface of platform deck  52  from becoming dirty as it is otherwise apt to do with platform  26  in its stowed position under vehicle  20 , especially if the vehicle is traveling over wet and muddy surfaces. Cover  130  has an upper panel  132 , a depending front panel  134 , and depending rear panels  136  and  138 . The depending panels  134 ,  136 , and  138  are detachably secured to the front and rear girders or structural members  38 ,  40 , and  42  of platform  26  as by the illustrated snaps, all identified in the drawings by reference character  140 . To expose the deck of platform  26 , the rear panels  136  and  138  of cover  130  can be unsnapped, and cover  130  simply allowed to hang down as shown in FIG.  15 . Alternatively, front panel  134  can also be unsnapped and cover  130  completely removed from the deck  52  of step  24 . 
     The details of cover  130  are not critical as far as the present invention is concerned. Of those details, the only ones deemed noteworthy are the cutout  142  (FIGS. 16 and 17) which accommodates the outer column  34  of step  24  and the typical manufacture of the cover from a nonskid material which offers optimal use of the step with the cover in place. 
     While the invention is described and illustrated herein in the context of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing descriptions and illustrations, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.