Patent Abstract:
A step for mounting in a trailer hitch which is adjustable in the vertical and horizontal positions. A joining member has displaced connecting ends sized to fit both a standard trailer hitch and a mounting bracket on the step. One or more fastening points in at least one of the connecting ends of the joining member enables adjustment of the position of the joining member to the trailer hitch. Rotation and reversal of the joining member provides for a variety of adjustments in the vertical and horizontal position of the step with relation to the trailer.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/303333, filed Jul. 6, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to steps which are removably mountable to a trailer hitch of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Trailer hitches are well known. They are mounted to the chassis of an automobile or a truck, for example, for towing applications. The hitches take a variety of different forms and shapes and a common one protrudes from an end of the vehicle to receive a mounting device for coupling the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle. Many of the trailer hitches have a circular or rectangular cross-section and in addition, are open-ended so that a mating end of the mounting device such as a ball shaped member can be inserted into the hitch to enable the towing operation. 
     Vehicles for which the trailer hitches are used include station wagons, trucks such as flatbed and pick-up trucks, and the popular sport utility vehicle (SUV). In certain of these vehicles, particularly the pick-up trucks, the cargo portion of the vehicle to which the trailer hitch is mounted is not immediately accessible and therefore, it would be desirable to have a step which is removably mountable to the vehicle, such as at the trailer hitch, to access the cargo portion of the vehicle. 
     It would be desirable to have the step removably mounted to the cargo hitch so that when the step is not needed, it could be removed, stored, repaired or refurbished as necessary. 
     In addition, because the step would not be an integral part of the trailer hitch or the vehicle chassis, it would be desirable to have the position of the step vertically and horizontally adjustable with respect to the cargo floor. 
     It would also be desirable to have an anti-vibration feature for the step to reduce noise during driving at highway speed with the step in place. 
     Trailer hitch steps are known in the art. For, example U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,927 issued to Debo (2001) discloses a pull-out tailgate step that attaches to a truck trailer hitch. The step makes it possible to step from the ground to the tread of the step and then to the tailgate of the truck. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,843 issued to Maxwell, et al. (2001) discloses a step which is capable of being inserted into a trailer hitch. U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,865 issued to Cannara et al. (2000) discloses a combined trailer hitch cover and step assembly which acts as a step and a cover for the trailer hitch socket. U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,774 issued to Klemp (1998) shows a combination step and bumper assembly. However, while all of these devices are trailer hitch steps, none of these allows for adjusting both the vertical and horizontal placement of the step. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention sets forth a step for mounting in a trailer hitch which is adjustable in the vertical and horizontal positions. A joining member has displaced connecting ends sized to fit both a standard trailer hitch and a mounting bracket on the step. One or more fastening points in at least one of the connecting ends of the joining member enables adjustment of the position of the joining member to the trailer hitch. Rotation and reversal of the joining member provides for a variety of adjustments in the vertical and horizontal position of the step with relation to the trailer. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is easily removably mountable to a trailer hitch of a vehicle and can be easily positioned. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a step which is adapted to be vertically and horizontally displaced with respect to the trailer hitch to adjust the position of the step with respect to the trailer hitch or vehicle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which has an anti-vibration device for the step. 
     Still another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which has an anti-skid surface upon which a user can stand. 
     A further object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is durable and long-lasting. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is easily adjustable to accommodate different vehicles and/or users. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is stylish and does not detract from the aesthetics of the vehicle to which it is attached. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which can be easily disassembled to stow away when not in use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is strong and sturdy and can easily support the weight of its user. 
     A further object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is safe to use. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch step which is of simple design and economical to construct yet offers wide flexibility in use. 
     These as well as further object and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the accompanying detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a top front right side perspective view from the top front of the vehicle step of my new design; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a right side view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1 which is a mirror image of the left side view; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1 with the vehicle step positioned in an alternative raised position as shown in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 8 is a top front right side perspective view of the vehicle step shown in FIG. 1 form the top front showing the vehicle step arranged in the alternate raised position; 
     FIG. 9 is a view showing the components for adjustably mounting the step to a trailer hitch; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, there is shown a trailer hitch step assembly, generally indicated at  10  according to the present invention, having a step  11 , and an L shaped connecting or forming member  22 . The member  22  is intended to fit within and coact with a standard square tubed trailer hitch H. 
     The step  11  includes a tubular shaped member  12  having a cylindrical center section  13  and ends  12   a  and  12   b  which may be bent or slightly turned as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     A flat surface  14  is formed on the top of the member  12  and is provided with anti-skid material to form a tread  16 . The tread  16  is constructed from any of the known materials for this type of use, and may also be provided with surface contouring to reduce slippage. The tread  16  may also have indicia to indicate the model number, name of the manufacturer, or other indicia such as advertising or sponsorship. 
     The cross-section of the member  12  is preferably circular, as this shape is less likely to be adversely effected from vibration, racking stresses, and pressure exerted on the member  12  when in use and attached to the trailer hitch H of the vehicle. 
     Referring also to FIGS.  1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 9  and  10 , the step  11  includes bracket  17  having arms  18 , 20  which extend from the front  19  of the bracket  17  and is connected to the tubular center section  13 . The bracket arms  18 , 20  are each provided with a corresponding aperture  18   a,   20   a,  respectively, which are in registration with each other. 
     Referring to FIG.  1 , 4  and  10  an L-shaped joining member  22  has a vertical leg  23  with a top end  24 , and a horizontal leg  25  with an end  26 . The L-shaped member has a rectangular cross-section made from tubing, and is sized and shaped so that vertical leg  23  and horizontal leg  25  of the member  22  can be received between the bracket arms  18 , 20 . Each one of the legs  23 , 25  is provided with a plurality of sets of holes, i.e., holes  28  and  30  on leg  25  and holes  32  and  34  on vertical leg  23  that extend through both sides of the tubing. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, the vertical leg  23  of the L-shape member  22  is mounted between the bracket arms  18 , 20  of bracket  17  by a threaded bolt  36  and nut  38  passing through apertures  20   a  and  18   a  of the bracket and apertures  32  of vertical leg  23 . Washers  40  are used to secure the nut  38  and the bolt  36  in a threaded position. 
     As shown in particular in FIGS. 1 and 3, the L-shaped joining member  22  can be mounted to the bracket arms  18 , 20  by having one of the sets of the holes  32 - 34  of the vertical leg  23  brought into registration between the holes  18   a  and  20   a  of bracket arms  18 , 20  for the bolt  36  to be guided through. Thus two different heights can be obtained for the step. 
     The height of the step can be further adjusted by rotating the L-shaped member  22  so that the vertical leg  23  is either above the horizontal leg  25  or below the horizontal leg  25 . A mid position is available in which the horizontal leg would be below the vertical leg, and aperture of hole  34  would be connected to the arms  18 , 20  of the bracket. 
     As shown in the Figures, the end  26  of the horizontal leg of member  22  is sized and shaped to be removably received within the trailer hitch H. Alternatively, the end  24  of the vertical leg can be removably mounted to the hitch H. The hitch H is constructed with a hole  44  extending therethrough. Holes  28 , 30  in horizontal leg  25  of L-shaped member  22  are positioned to be in registration with the hole  44  in the hitch H. After end  26  of the horizontal leg  25  of member  22  has been inserted into the hitch H, a stud or pin  46  is inserted through the hole  44  of the hitch. The pin  46  has a hole  48  extending therethrough and into which a clip or cotter pin  50  is inserted to retain the pin  46  in position. Either hole  28  or  30  can be placed in registration with hole  44  in the trailer hitch H to provide for horizontal adjustment of the position of the step. 
     In view of the foregoing construction, it can be seen that the L-shaped member  22  can be used to adjust the position of the step  11  vertically by positioning the bracket arms  18  and  20  in registration with one of the selected holes  32  or  34  of the L-shaped member  22 , and can be used to adjust the position horizontally by moving the end  26  of the member  22  into and out of the trailer hitch H to a preferred position by aligning the holes  28  or  30  with the hole  44  of the hitch H. 
     An anti-vibration member  52  of the step assembly  10  is shown in particular with respect to FIGS.  1 , 3  and  4 . The member  52  consists of a collar  54  sized and shaped to receive end  26  of the L-shaped member  22  therethrough. The collar  54  is accordingly rectangular shaped, although it can be of another shape to conform to the cross-section of the member  22 . As shown in FIG. 4, the collar  54  includes at one side thereof a threaded hole  56 , through which a screw  58 , such as a wing screw or butterfly nut  58 , is mounted for tightening the collar  54  onto the member  22 . An opposite end of the collar  54  is provided with a bracing member  60  having opposed ends  62 , 64 . Each of the opposed ends  62 , 64  is bent in a direction toward the member  22  extending through the collar  54 . The member end  62  extends further down the collar  54  to contact a surface of the joining member  22  when the screw  58  is tightened down as shown in FIG. 4 for example. 
     In contrast, the end  64  of member  60  is of a shorter downward length than the end  62  to accommodate the dimensions of the hitch H as shown in particular in FIG.  4 . The shorter length of the end  64  provides clearance for the collar  54  to be slipped over the hitch H. When the screw  58  is tightened down, the longer end  62  braces against the joining member  22 , while the shorter end  64  provides enough clearance for the hitch H to be received between the end  64  and the member  22 . When the screw  58  has been tightened down for the bracing member  60  to brace the L-shape member  22  and therefore the step  11 , vibration is substantially reduced, if not eliminated, at the step during towing. The bracing occurs simultaneously with respect to the bracing member  60  and the joining member  22 , and the bracing member  60  and the hitch H. 
     The collar  54  is also preferably coated with a high density plastic material to prevent unnecessary scraping of the hitch H. 
     We have described the invention with the L shaped member  22  oriented with leg  25  horizontally disposed and leg  23  vertically disposed. The lengths of the legs  25  and  23  can be different lengths and the holes or apertures on each leg can be of different spacing as is shown herein. The cross sections of legs  23  and  25  can be sized so that each can be accommodated in the arms  18 ,  20 , of bracket member  17  and in the end of trailer hitch H. Therefore the orientation of the L-shaped joining member  22  can be reversed so that orientation of leg  23  would become the horizontal leg, therefore giving an entirely different set of alternative mounting positions for the step  11  with relation to the trailer hitch H. 
     LEGEND FOR REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       10  step generally 
       11  step 
       12  tubular member 
       12   a &amp; b  ends of tubular section 
       13  cylindrical section of  11   
       14  flattened surface 
       16  anti skid material 
       17  bracket member 
       19  front of bracket 
       18 , 20  extending arms of  17   
       18   a    20   a  apertures in  18 ,  20   
       22  L-shaped joining member 
       23  vertical leg of  22   
       24  top end of  24   
       25  horizontal leg of  22   
       26  hitch end of  25   
       28 , 30  holes in  25   
       30 , 32  holes in  23   
       36  threaded bolt 
       38  nut 
       40  washers 
       42  cushionable cap 
       44  hole—in Hitch H 
       46  pin for  44   
       48  hole in  46   
       50  clip for  48   
       52  anti vibration member 
       54  collar 
       56  threaded hole in  54   
       58  screw in  56   
       60  bracing member on  54   
       62  opposed end—step side 
       64  opposed end—hitch side 
     h standard square tubed trailer hitch

Technology Classification (CPC): 1