Abstract:
An apparatus and method that attaches to a tire and supplies a step to enable access to the engine compartment or rooftop of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus is adjustable to better fit with a variety of different sized tires. The apparatus is also adjustable to allow the apparatus to rest at different height locations on the tire. Additionally, the tire step can be folded for easier storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field  
         [0002]     An apparatus and method is disclosed relating to use as a step or a platform, and more particularly, relating to a step for installation on a vehicle tire.  
         [0003]     2. General Background  
         [0004]     Due to the height off of the ground of some vehicles and trucks, mechanics cannot reach the engine to complete their work. The top of large vehicles can be difficult to reach when washing the vehicle. Additionally, many sport utility vehicles and vans allow for extra storage on the rooftop of their vehicles that can be difficult to reach. To combat this problem, many apparatus and devices have been previously used as a step that fits over a vehicle tire. These tire steps have been developed to allow easier access to the engine or to the rooftop.  
         [0005]     The various uses of tire steps require that the height of the step off of the ground be varied. Many of the previous tire steps do not allow for adjustment of the height of the step. The tire steps that do allow height adjustment only allows for adjustment of the platform on the apparatus.  
         [0006]     The disclosure is directed towards an improvement which seeks to allow adjustment to the height of the apparatus as it rests on the tire and to correspond better with different tire widths.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     One feature of this disclosure allows for adjustment of the hanging structure along the width of the tire. By changing the width of the structure, the height of the apparatus as positioned on the tire can be changed. An individual can reach higher on the vehicle or farther into the engine underneath the hood as the height of where the apparatus rests on the tire is varied. This also allows people of different sizes to comfortably work with the vehicle.  
         [0008]     Another feature of the disclosed method and apparatus is to allow for both width and depth adjustment of the tire step. The depth of the tire step is adjusted by allowing the joining members and legs of a hanging structure to be connected at different points. The depth adjustment allows the structure to fit with a variety of different tires. The joining members and arms of the apparatus can also be adjusted by width to allow the tire step to rest on different heights of the tire.  
         [0009]     Another feature of the width adjustment in the disclosure allows the hanging structure to correspond better with a variety of different sized tires. The width of different sized tires varies not only along the depth of the tire but also along the circumference of the tire. The width adjustment available with this apparatus addresses the different circumference of various tires. The disclosure allows a better fit with more tires.  
         [0010]     Another feature of the disclosure allows for the apparatus to be folded for easier storage. The arms and legs of the hanging structure are connected using hinges. The step platform is also connected to the hanging structure using hinges.  
         [0011]     Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates the tire step apparatus in its widest configuration and its position on a tire of a vehicle;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the tire step apparatus in a wide configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates the tire step apparatus in a more narrow configuration and its position on a tire of a vehicle;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the tire step apparatus in the more narrow configuration;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows the tire step apparatus in a folder position for easier storage;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a detail view of the tire step apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     A tire step  10  includes a hanging structure  22  and a step platform  14 . The hanging structure includes arms  24 , connecting members  32  and a support. The support includes legs  40  and joining members  48 . To adjust the height of the tire step  10  as it rests on the tire  12 , the arms  24  and the joining members  48  are adjustable. The width and depth of the support is also adjustable where the legs  40  are attached to the joining members  48 .  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate one exemplary embodiment. An apparatus used as a tire step  10  is shown in its widest configuration. The tire step  10  is mounted onto a tire  12  to allow easier access to the engine compartment or the roof of the vehicle. In its widest configuration, the tire step  10  is mounted lower on the tire  12 . The apparatus includes a step platform  14  attached with a bolt  16  to a hinge member  18 . The hinge member  18  is connected to the hanging structure using a locking pin  20 .  
         [0020]     The hanging structure  22  has spaced apart L-shaped arms  24 . In other embodiments, the arm can have different shapes. The hinge members  18  engage the arms  24  with a locking pin  20 . The arms extend upward from the step platform  14 . Located on the opposing end of the arm  24  is a hole  28  where a locking pin  30  is engaged. The locking pin  30  is also engaged with a connecting member  32 . There exists many different ways to connect the two members together, such as bolts and other fastening devices engaging the two members together. The various embodiments would be obvious to one skilled in the art.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates the top view of this embodiment. A bolt  42  is engaged with a hole  44  in a leg  40  in the support of the hanging structure. The opposing end of the leg  40  has another hole  46  where a joining member  48  formed with a plurality of holes  50  can be connected. Adjustment of the hanging structure  22  here alters the depth and width of the support of tire step  10  and enables the tire step  10  to be used with a variety of different sized tires. A locking pin  52  connects the joining member  48  as it is inserted through the leg  40  at one of the holes  50 . On the opposing end of the joining member  48  is another hole  54  that engages a linking member  56  with a fastening device. Adjustment of the tire step  10  here enables the platform  14  to be placed at different heights.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrates this embodiment of the tire step apparatus  10  in a more narrow configuration.  FIG. 3  demonstrates that when the width of the tire step  10  is adjusted, the apparatus can be mounted higher on the tire  12 . Correspondingly, the tire step  10  allows the user to reach higher on the vehicle. As shown, the linking member  56  is produced with a variety of spaced apart holes  60 . The tire step  10  can be adjusted by width using the linking member  56  and the connecting members  32 . The two joining members  48  are able to slide through the linking member  56  and attached using a locking pin  58  at one of the variety of holes  60 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates a detail view of this embodiment showing the connecting member  32  that is also used to adjust the width of the tire step  10 . The connecting member  32  has a plurality of spaced apart holes  34  where the arm  18  of the hanging structure  22  is connected. The connecting member  32  contains a hole  38  where the legs  40  of the hanging structure  22  is connected. In this embodiment, a bolt  42  connects the leg to the connecting member the hole  38 .  
         [0024]     To adjust the height of the tire step  10  as it sits on a tire, the width of the tire step is adjusted. To make the apparatus wider and rest lower on the tire as in  FIG. 1 , the joining members  48  are connected to the linking member  56  with a linking pin at the holes  60  towards the outside of the apparatus. Also, the L-shaped arms  24  are connected to the connecting members  32  at the holes  34  towards the inside of the apparatus. This enables the platform  10  to be located at different heights on the tire  12 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates the tire step in the folded position. The legs  40  of the hanging structure  22  rotate downward about the bolt  42  connecting the leg  40  to the connecting member  32 . The platform  14  rotates up towards the arms about the bolt  16  connecting the hinge member  18  to the platform  14 . The rotation of these elements allow the tire step apparatus  10  to be folded for easier storage. Other hinge components could also be utilized to perform the same function in other embodiments.  
         [0026]     While the apparatus and method has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.