Abstract:
A vehicle running step formed of an elongate tube, the tube having an opening therethrough with a plurality of spaced apart tread plates mounted within the opening. The spaced apart tread plates form a non-slip self-cleaning step area along the tube. Dirt, debris, snow and ice can pass between the spaced apart tread plates to increase overall safety of the device. Furthermore, the spaced apart tread plates are aesthetically pleasing and relatively simple to manufacture.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/721,944 filed Sep. 30, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field Of The Invention 
   This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle running steps and more particularly to a running step with self-cleaning, slip proof treads. 
   2. Description Of The Related Art 
   A variety of configurations of running steps have been designed and developed both as original equipment manufacture (OEM) products and as after market or add-on products. Running steps are not the same as running boards. Many running boards are molded from plastics and synthetic compounds or formed from metal. Common running boards include a tread and a mechanism for attaching the tread to the vehicle structure; generally the board is connected to the vehicle at one edge and along its entire length. Running steps are distinguishable in that the tread portion is generally spaced apart from the vehicle and connected to the vehicle at the opposed ends of the step. 
   Running steps usually have at least two attachment points which are fixed to the side rails of the vehicle chassis or which span underneath a chassis to attach to a vehicle rail. These steps are commonly manufactured from a tube where the tube has opposed ends, each end provided with attachment mechanisms for mounting to the vehicle chassis. The tread portion of the vehicle step is generally spaced apart from the vehicle chassis so that a space exist between the step and the body of the vehicle. 
   Because tube steps, often manufactured from chrome plated steel or aluminum can be slippery and somewhat dangerous when wet, covered with snow or mud, it is not uncommon to have a tread portion covered with rubber, abrasive paper or other slip-resistant material; In some applications, a slight recess or indention is formed in the upper most surface of the tube and a tread plate, formed of metal, rubber, plastic or other materials is positioned within the insert, substantially flush the upper tube surface. The insert is generally retained with adhesive, bolts, snaps, friction taps or similar fasteners. Vehicle sidesteps having tread inserts are disclosed at U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,946 to Lund, U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,230 to Weir, the Design Patent U.S. D494,914 issued to Elwell. 
   Each if these referenced patents disclose a tube step having a recess or insert in the upper surface with a tread plug inserted therein. The tread plugs are generally manufactured of rubber, plastic and in some cases metal. These tread plugs accumulate dirt, snow, ice and debris thereby posing a safety hazard to users. Further, the plugs utilizing rubber, plastic or abrasive papers are prone to wear and damage. 
   SUMMARY 
   The disclosed vehicle running step facilitates the disbursement or eradication of accumulated debris, and includes a stable, self-cleaning and non-slip tread insert thus overcoming the above described limitations of the prior art. 
   In one embodiment, a vehicle running step is formed from tube material, preferably manufactured from steel, aluminum or other suitable rigid material. The running step is provided with a linear step section interposing two curved end portions. The end portions both curve in one direction such that each end of the tube can be mounted to the chassis of the vehicle to which the step is attached. It will be obvious that a pair of vehicle running steps would include two opposed steps, one for each side of the vehicle. Generally, herein only one vehicle running step will be described with the understanding that the orientation must be reversed for positioning and fastening to the opposite side of the vehicle. 
   At a predetermined position along the length of the tube, an insert opening is formed by cutting away a portion of the tube, preferably spanning from the upper most surface completely through the lower most surface to form an opening completely through the tube body. An insert is manufactured and fixed within the opening. The insert includes a plurality of spaced apart, rigid plates in the upright or vertical position. This orientation provides a plurality of spaced apart plate edges in the tread position so that when the user steps on the insert, their foot spans the spaced apart plates. Because the insert opening traverses completely from the upper surface to the lower surface of the tube, any dirt, debris, ice, snow or other materials can fall between the plates onto the ground. Moreover, because it is common during vehicle operation for debris to accumulate on sidesteps, the spaced apart plate orientation facilitates self-cleaning of the tread as the debris falls between the spaced apart plates. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial view of the step portion of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the step portion of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial view of the tread insert of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 6  is a close up partial view of the upper surface of a tread plate of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial top view of another embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial top view of the tread insert of another embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial top view of another embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial view of the tread insert of another embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
       FIG. 11  is a partial view of the step portion of an embodiment of a vehicle running step. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Now referring generally to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle running step  102  is shown. The running step  102  is formed in any conventional manner, but is typically constructed of rigid tubular materials such as tubular steel which is then painted chrome plated. The step extends from beneath a vehicle where it is attached to a frame member, or similar rigid surface via brackets, or direct attachments, such as weldment or bolting. The step includes a tube  104  with a step portion  106 . It is understood the tube may have any geometric cross-section such as round, oval, square or the like. The tube  104  also has a first end  108  and a bend  110  between the step portion  106  and the first end  108 . Similarly, a second end  112  is opposed the first end  108 , with a bend  114  between the step portion  106  and the second end  112 . The first end  108  and second end  112  are both oriented in the same direction and will generally provide the mounting locations to connect the running step  102  to a vehicle chassis. 
   At a least one position along the linear tube  104 , an insert opening  116  is formed by cutting away the upper surface of the tube  104  and the lower surface of the tube  104  to form an opening vertically through the entire tube structure. The edges of the opening in the upper portion of the tube  104  and the edges of the opening in the lower portion of the tube  104  are generally in vertical alignment. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in the preferred embodiment, the tube  104  is provided with a substantially flattened section  118  along the upper most surface adjacent the insert opening  116  . The flattened section  118  to provides a generally flat area for foot placement are which is more stable than the typical round surface of the tube  104 , to increase safety when the running step  102  is used. 
   A tread insert  120 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  10  is formed separately from the tube  104  and is preferably manufactured from steel, aluminum or other rigid material. The insert includes a bracket  122 , preferably formed of rigid plate material and is substantially dimensioned to mate to the insert opening  116  of the tube  104 . The bracket  122  will generally be fastened to the tube  104  by weldment or similar attachment means. A plurality of tread plates  124  are positioned within the bracket  122  and fixed in vertical spaced apart alignment as shown. The spaced apart tread plates  124  are preferably aligned and positioned parallel to the length of the tube  104  and consequently parallel to the vehicle itself. It is understood, however, the tread plates  124  can be spaced apart and aligned in any orientation within the scope and spirit of this invention. The space between the tread plates  124  is sufficient to allow debris to fall between the plates onto the ground but are close enough together to prevent a user&#39;s foot from wedging between the plates  124  during use. Generally, as shown in  FIG. 10 , retention bars  125  will be positioned between each adjacent pair of tread plates  124  to increase rigidity of the tread plates  124  and to limit flex or bend of the plates  124  during use. The retention bars  125  also prevent a user&#39;s foot from wedging between adjacent plates  124 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the upper surface  126  of each spaced apart tread plate  124  is substantially flush with the upper surface of the tube  104 . Each tread plate  124  may span from the top of the tube structure to the bottom of the tube structure. It is understood, however, that the tread plates  124  may be manufactured to span less than the entire diameter of the tube  104 . 
   Each tread plate  124  has an upper surface  126  which is preferably flush to the tube  104  surface, and which is patterned to increase friction. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6  each surface  126  may have small cut out portions, or metal build up to increase the surface friction of the surface  126 . While the preferred embodiment is configured such that the upper surface  126  of the tread plate  124  is substantially flush with the outer periphery of the tube  104 , the upper surface may also be recessed below or positioned above the periphery of the tube  104 . 
   Any variety of tube lengths can be used to configure the specific tube applications to the vehicle to which it is intended to be attached. Consequently, the length of the tread insert  120  may be varied depending on the overall tube length. In a second embodiment of the invention, the tread insert  120  spans substantially the entire length of the tube  104  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The tread plates  124  also span the length of the tube  104  within the dimensions of the tread insert  120 . 
   Moreover, the insert opening  116  and step insert  122  may be manufactured in any variety of geometric shapes and configurations, such as squares, rectangles, ovals, circles, diamonds or other similar shapes, an example is shown in  FIG. 8 . Each tube  104  may be provided with multiple insert openings  116  and step inserts  120  as shown in  FIG. 7 . This configuration allows for multiple tread inserts to be positioned along the tube, beneficial on applications such as on four door vehicles where it is preferred to have a tread insert  120  substantially adjacent each vehicle door. 
   While the present invention has been described above, it should be clear that many changes and modifications may be made to the process and product without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , a partial view of the step portion of an embodiment of a vehicle running step is shown. In the embodiment shown, the tread plates  124  in tread insert  120  are disposed substantially perpendicular to the length of the tube  104 .